Comments / New

Dallas Stars Daily Links: The Taylor vs. Tyler Debate, Revisited

It’s been six years since the debate first hit over whether to take Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin with the first pick in the 2010 Draft. The Hockey News’ Mike Brophy revisits the issue and asks which player you’d rather have on your team today.

It was a coin toss in 2010 and it remains a coin toss in 2016. Taylor or Tyler?

“I don’t know who I’d take today,” said an NHL pro scout. “They are both great players. The speed factor for both of them is the big thing. Seguin may have the better hands and Hall is more of a straight-line player, but I’d be happy to have either of them.”

Based on what we have seen through five-plus seasons in the NHL, it’s hard to imagine the Oilers making a different decision if they were presented with the possibility of a do-over. Until Connor McDavid’s arrival in Edmonton this season, Hall was the Oilers best player.

Brophy goes on to highlight Seguin’s rise since joining the Stars, as well as the effect that McDavid’s arrival could have on Hall’s performance in Edmonton.

“It’s still a pretty difficult pick,” said another pro scout. “One’s a power winger and the other set-up centre who can shoot, too. It depends what you are looking for. If you are looking for speed and a power winger you’d take Hall. If you want a playmaker who can scores some goals you take Seguin. I think for scouts it still comes up even.”

There’s more on the pair at the link, although it’s not a tough guess to pick which guy Stars fans would rather have. [The Hockey News]

Radek Faksa is making the most of his opportunity in the NHL. [Stars]

The Stars are scrambling to fix whatever’s ailing their power play. [SportsDayDFW]

Andrew Ladd might be on the move, the Sharks are on the hunt for a defenseman, and other trade rumors. [Ottawa Sun]

Malcolm Subban was hospitalized with a fractured larynx after taking a puck to the throat in warmups on Saturday, but is currently in stable condition. [Sportsnet]

The Blues might be getting an outdoor game in 2017. You get one guess on who it’s against, and you won’t like being right. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 30th goal of the season yesterday, joining some pretty elite company.

In honor of Super Bowl 50 going down yesterday (sorry to the Panthers fans out there), take a look at the times that the NHL and the NFL crossed paths. [Puck Daddy]

And speaking of football, which NHLer is hockey’s Peyton Manning? [ESPN]

From Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin to Devils defenseman Damon Severson, the five second-year players who are stuck in the dreaded sophomore slump. [The Hockey News]

Thanks to a hat trick from Kyle Okposo, the Islanders trounced the Oilers 8-1. Connor McDavid did score, though, so there’s that.

Montreal won its second straight game yesterday, so maybe the Canadiens aren’t done, after all. [Sportsnet]

Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov and Canadiens forward Nikita Scherbak headline the next generation of Russian NHLers. [Sports Illustrated]

On Amanda Kessel and her road back to the rink at the University of Minnesota. [New York Times]

And finally, it pays to be nice (the Blues were able to find the young fan).

Talking Points