Taylor Hall Acquired by Boston at NHL Trade Deadline, Bruins Stanley Cup Odds Shorten to +1700

• Sabres’ forward Taylor Hall has been traded to the Boston Bruins
• The Bruins’ 2021 Stanley Cup odds have shortened from +2000 to +1700 following the trade
• Read below to see how acquiring Hall impacts Boston’s Stanley Cup odds

The Boston Bruins have won the Taylor Hall sweepstakes. The team acquired the speedy winger along with forward Curtis Lazar from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Ander Bjork and a second-round draft pick Sunday evening. Boston is currently battling for playoff position in the East Division and coming off a disastrous 8-1 blowout loss to the Capitals. The Bruins’ 2021 Stanley Cup odds are being listed at +1700.

Should you bet on Boston now that they’ve landed the most sought after NHL trade deadline target?

2021 Stanley Cup Odds

Odds as of April 12th 

Taylor Hall In Need Of Fresh Start 

Taylor Hall signed with the Sabres in 2020 free agency in hopes of helping turn Buffalo into a contender again. It’s safe to say things didn’t go as planned, as Buffalo has won just 10 games this season and incurred a brutal 18-game losing streak beginning in February.

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SABRES WIN ‼️ #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/15JtMV3ov6

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 1, 2021

Hall was expected to form a lethal duo with captain Jack Eichel, and that also didn’t go according to plan. Hall has managed just two goals and 19 points in 37 games for the Sabres, and Eichel suffered a long-term injury in early March. Buffalo is averaging just 2.32 goals-per-game — third-worst in the league.

Taylor Hall’s numbers have been declining over the past three seasons split between Buffalo, Arizona, and New Jersey, but these teams weren’t exactly offensive juggernauts. The speedy winger is only 29 years of age and just three years removed from a 93-point MVP season. The Bruins are clearly banking on Hall returning to form on a more talented roster.

Bruins on Playoff Cusp

The Bruins were the NHL’s best regular-season team last season, but they’re currently battling for the final playoff spot in the East Division. Bruce Cassidy’s team sits fourth place with 48 points through 39 games, with both the Rangers and Flyers being just four points back. Boston suffered their worst loss of the season Sunday with an 8-1 defeat at the hands of the Capitals.

Final. pic.twitter.com/srkjqoA2JJ

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 12, 2021

Boston boasts one of the league’s top lines with David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and Patrice Bergeron, but they lack secondary scoring. Taylor Hall should help fix that problem by slotting in on the second line with veteran center David Krejci. The former Sabre should also provide a nice boost to one of the better power-play units in the NHL.

This acquisition comes at a grave time of need for Boston. The Bruins have lost three of their past five games and have been decimated by the injury bug. Boston’s growing injury list includes Tuukka Rask, Jaroslav Halak, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk, and Ondrej Kase.

Taylor Hall’s Impact on Boston’s Stanley Cup Odds

Boston is in a tight race for a playoff spot in the East Division, but this trade is a huge boost to their chances. The Bruins were listed as a +500 longshot to land Hall at the deadline and weren’t one of the team generating the most buzz in the sweepstakes.

Do you think Taylor Hall will do well in Boston? #TradeCentre pic.twitter.com/aUEAjOZmwC

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 12, 2021

Boston is one of the best defensive teams when healthy, and now they have a proven scorer to help fix their offensive issues. Outside of Boston’s lethal top line, Nick Ritchie is the only forward on the team to reach 10 goals this season. Hall has been declining, but the talent is there for him to become a reliable producer in the top-six.

The Taylor Hall acquisition gives the Bruins a major edge over the other “bubble” teams in the East. They’re still facing an uphill battle with the mounting injuries, but this blockbuster deal helps soften the blow. Boston’s Stanley Cup odds have already shortened from +2000 to +1700, and I expect them to drop a little further once Hall gets acclimated in Boston.