Former Hart Trophy winner out week-to-week with shoulder injury

Chicago Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson told the media on Monday afternoon that forward Taylor Hall is out week-to-week with a shoulder injury.

The 31-year-old has two assists in five games with the Blackhawks this year, his first season with the club since getting acquired just before the 2023 NHL Draft.

Hall previously injured his shoulder after getting caught by a blindside hit from Boston’s Brandon Carlo on the second night of the NHL season. He missed just one game against Montreal before returning against Toronto last Monday. Hall reaggravated his injury on Saturday in a 5-3 loss to Vegas, registering two shots on goal.

Hall was brought in to help mentor Connor Bedard, the first overall pick in 2023. Hall has been on the team’s top line all season long, but will now need at least a few games to get back into action.

Hall is coming off of a difficult season in Boston, where, despite the team posting the best regular season ever, he only had 16 goals and 36 points in 61 games. It was a big decrease from his 61 points in 81 games the year before as he struggled to stay healthy.

Drafted first overall in 2010, Hall won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP after his 93-point campaign in 2017-18. He has surpassed the 50-point mark six times in his career, and has typically been a decent playoff performer, as well. In 827 games over 14 seasons between Edmonton, New Jersey, Buffalo, Arizona, Boston and Chicago, Hall has 264 goals and 695 career points.

Chicago has a 2-4 record in 2023-24, with wins against Pittsburgh in the season-opener and Toronto last Monday. The Blackhawks lost 5-3 against Vegas in Chicago’s home opener on Saturday, and will welcome the Bruins to town on Tuesday.