Much like the nature of the situation surrounding his trade, Taylor Hall felt the absence of control Saturday night.
In his first game versus the Edmonton Oilers - the team that dealt him to the New Jersey Devils six years after selecting him first overall - Hall admitted that the moment affected his performance.
"You want to show yourself so well that you almost kind of forget how to play hockey and what you need to do out there," Hall said after the 2-1 overtime loss, according to Andrew Gross of the Bergen Record.
Hall certainly didn't make a statement, but was still reasonably effective under the circumstances. He fired three shots on Cam Talbot, and had the top possession numbers among Devils skaters in a game which they were out-attempted 77-34.
Since the deal, Hall has spoken candidly about the disappointment of leaving Edmonton, and the bruising feeling of being singled out as a scapegoat for his former team's shortcomings. He told Gross he's still "a bit bitter," but is now happy to be a member of the Devils.
