Imagine what Taylor Hall could have accomplished if he was fully healthy.
The New Jersey Devils star winger, a 2018 Hart Trophy finalist and the NHL's sixth-leading scorer this past season, played since December with a significant hand injury, one that required surgery last week. Doctors repaired torn ligaments in his left hand, with the surgery deemed successful by the Devils medical staff in a statement released by the team on Tuesday.
Beginning on Jan. 2, Hall was a dominant force for the Devils, recording points in 26 consecutive games in which he played through March 6. In that run, Hall scored 18 goals, added 20 assists and totaled 38 points, driving the Devils towards the club's first playoff berth in six seasons.
What made that stretch the more impressive is Tuesday's announcement that Hall suffered the injury to his hand right before, in "late December".
"He pushed us to be better," Devils coach John Hynes said of Hall after the team was eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs y the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"He was a very hungry player all season. He was driven...and very much about the team."
When asked in his postseason media session whether or not Hall should win the hart Trophy as the league MVP, Hynes responded quickly.
"Yes."
"I think if you look at the impact he had on our team, coming from where we were last year, and the impact he had on making other players better, no disrespect to others, but it's Taylor Hall. He was a driving force from Day One to Game 82 right into the playoffs."
Hall established career-highs across the board with 39 goals, 54 assists and 93 points before adding two goals and four assists in five games against the Lightning in the playoffs. He finished the season tied for ninth in the NHL in goals and fifth with 37 power play points.
It was a pleasure to play in front of you all season @NJDevils fans! Thank you for your amazing support. See you next year! pic.twitter.com/wP2iYPiQIX
— Taylor Hall (@hallsy09) April 23, 2018
The Devils also announced that two other players -- goaltender Cory Schneider and forward Patrick Maroon -- had postseason surgeries last week. Schneider, who missed nearly two months of action before returning in early March, underwent successful surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left hip. Maroon, acquired from the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline, had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back.
Hall will be ready to participate in training camp come September, while Maroon -- a pending unrestricted free agent -- "will be able to resume off-season training and preparation programs before the start of training camp", according to the Devils.
Schneider's off-season progress and prognosis will be updated by the team throughout the summer.