The Chicago Blackhawks traded forward Taylor Hall in a three-team deal with the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes, the team announced late Friday.
The trade involves sending Hall and Mikko Rantanen to the Hurricanes, with the Hawks retaining half of Rantanen’s $9.25 million cap hit. One of the Avs’ top forwards, Rantanen’s contract expires this season.
The Avalanche will receive Martin Nečas and Jesperi Kotkaniemi as part of the deal, and the Hurricanes return the 2025 third-rounder that the Hawks traded away to acquire a 2024 third-round pick. The Hawks used that pick (No. 92) to select forward Jack Pridham.
Hall’s $6 million cap hit nearly makes the retention of Rantanen’s salary a wash.
Hall, 33, finished his Hawks season with nine goals and 15 assists in 46 games, ranking fifth on the team with 24 points. He was scratched before Friday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the United Center.
It was a tumultuous 1½ years for Hall in Chicago. His Hawks career consisted of just 56 games with 11 goals and 17 assists.
Two summers ago, his trade from the Boston Bruins to the Hawks, along with Nick Foligno, came as a shock, but he eventually embraced as role as on-ice mentor for Connor Bedard.
But Hall played only 10 games last season because of shoulder and knee injuries. He had an up-and-down campaign this season, one that included a surprise scratch in November from now-fired coach Luke Richardson.
Hall admitted it was a mental blow but he later had his first hat trick in 11 years on Nov. 27 against the Dallas Stars.
But with the team floundering at the bottom of the standings, rumors that the Hawks brass would be on the hunt for trades only grew louder, and Hall was the prime candidate. The 15-year NHL veteran addressed the rumors last week.
“It’s a business, and I guess we’ll see what happens,” Hall said. “I’m just trying to play as good a hockey as I can, and wherever they play me, that’s what I’m going to do.
“I came into this year wanting to continue being a Blackhawk for years to come. I don’t know if that’s going to be the case anymore, but I’ll leave that door open for sure and understand that it’s a business and the team is going to do what’s best for them.”
The Hawks now have nine selections in the 2025 draft: two in the first round, two in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in the sixth.
