Taylor Hall’s 16th season in the NHL has been among his most rewarding, he said Tuesday, and it’s far from over.
Playing for the Carolina Hurricanes, Hall is on a team that could contend for the Stanley Cup. Playing on the Canes’ second line with center Logan Stankoven and right wing Jackson Blake, the veteran forward has been buoyed by their youth and energy, and been productive, recently scoring his 300th career goal.
“It’s been a really good ride,” Hall said Tuesday.
Hall, 34, has been named the Hurricanes’ nominee for the 2026 Bill Masterton Trophy, given annually to the NHL player who exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Hall was nominated by members of the Carolina chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
After a recent game, Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour noted Hall’s play was reminiscent of a decade ago, a comment that made the winger, a former NHL MVP, smile Tuesday when it was repeated.
“Sometimes, not every day,” he said. “But some days you feel pretty good and you go there and rip it. I think it’s just a comfort thing for me, as the year’s gone on.”
Hall came to the Canes from the Chicago Blackhawks in the mega-trade last season that had the Colorado Avalanche send star forward Mikko Rantanen to Carolina for forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury. The Blackhawks, as part of the three-team arrangement that also involved draft picks, agreed to absorb 50% of Rantanen’s salary while sending Hall to Carolina.
Hall played 31 regular-season games and 15 in the playoffs for the Canes, who were ousted by the Florida Panthers in the 2025 Eastern Conference final. He signed a three-year, $9.5 million contract extension last April as general manager Eric Tulsky called him a “veteran presence in the locker room and difference-maker on the ice.”
In 77 games this season, Hall has 16 goals, 28 assists and 44 points. While he has been slowed by knee issues during his career, he has shown the speed and explosiveness at times that helped make him a five-time NHL All-Star.
“There’s an added element of emotion when you join a team that’s in a race and building for something more,” Hall said Tuesday. “When you don’t have that, when you’re at the bottom of the standings, there’s just a weird situation, and you almost play for yourself a little bit instead of putting the team first.
“I love it here, I love the group. I love everything they’ve built. I’ve tried to come in and be a part of that. I feel like as the year’s gone on I’ve gotten a bigger and bigger role. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Hall’s thoughtful responses to media questions throughout the season also earned him another selection from the Carolina PHWA chapter: the Joseph Vasicek Award for his cooperation with the local media.
Brandon Bussi, who went from waiver-wire pickup to the Canes’ No. 1 goalie this season, has been chosen the team MVP for the 2025-26 season by the PHWA chapter.
Team MVPs since 2018
2026 — Brandon Bussi
2025 — Seth Jarvis
2024 — Sebastian Aho
2023 — Sebastian Aho
2022 – Frederik Andersen
2021 — Sebastian Aho
2020 — Sebastian Aho
2019 — Sebastian Aho
2018 — Sebastian Aho
Vasicek Award recipients since 2018
2026 — Taylor Hall
2025 — Sebastian Aho
2024 — Seth Jarvis
2023 — Antti Raanta
2022 – Andrei Svechnikov
2021 — Alex Nedeljkovic
2020 — Jordan Martinook
2019 — Justin Williams
2018 — Jordan Staal
Hurricanes Masterton nominees since 2018
2026 — Taylor Hall
2025 — Jordan Staal
2024 — Frederik Andersen
2023 — Jordan Martinook
2022 – Antti Raanta
2021 — Jordan Staal
2020 — James Reimer
2019 — Curtis McElhinney
2018 — Jordan Staal (NHL finalist)
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