Trade Rumor: Insider believes Hall could be traded!

After being the first to report the firing of Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins this morning, TSN analyst Darren Dreger spoke more about the situation in Edmonton and what steps could be taken in the future. He then dropped a a bombshell when he said he believed that Edmonton would consider trading Taylor Hall in an attempt to address the multiple problems elsewhere. Dreger said on TSN 1050: "If you’re moving a piece like Taylor Hall – and I believe that Taylor Hall will be in play – than the rate of return is always best when teams have flexibility in the summer… If you’re moving out a franchise player, potentially, like Taylor Hall is, you’d better be damn certain that that’s the right move for the organization because he is an elite talent. If you’re moving out Jordan Eberle, someone like that, again from that inner core, a core that you paid dearly, obviously too early, you have to be certain." He went on to elaborate that the Oilers have been a bit disenchanted by the apparent difference in culture that Hall brings to the team. Dreger of course s just one man, but he is a very prominent insider and has connections to nearly any NHL team. Do not be fooled, what Dreger says holds some weight to it. “It’s not one player; it’s the collection of players that make up a sagging work ethic and a lack of culture,” he said. “But if you wanted to put a face on it or a name to it, that would be Taylor Hall. Taylor Hall, at least again from a culture standpoint, more in the room not necessarily on the ice, hasn’t been what they’d hoped he would be.” Hall is possibly the best left-winger in the NHL and trading him could seem like lunacy. If the Oilers were to trade away Hall, it would mean receiving a significant step down at the position, and possibly a defenceman or starting goaltender. These are needs that have been years in the making. Hall is a great player, but if he becomes a scapegoat for what is happening in that locker room anything can happen.