Healthy Hall

  While the Edmonton Oilers fans are missing out on watching the young and dynamic roster on the ice this season, the city of Oklahoma has been treated to a largely improved roster of rising stars that include names like Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Justin Schultz, and as of this coming Friday, Taylor Hall.

  Hall, the 2010 first overall draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers, had his season end early last year after having sustained a shoulder injury, and missed the last 11 games of the regular season while his team failed to make the playoffs. His last game was March 16th, where he was knocked unconscious from a hit by Calgary Flames defenseman Cory Sarich. Hall has been practicing with the Oklahoma City Barons, Edmonton’s American Hockey League affiliate, and recently returned to Edmonton for evaluation where he was cleared to begin play. Though he is likely to start Friday against the Houston Aeros, he will not play in back-to-back games straight away.

  Through his first two seasons, Hall has appeared in 126 games and scored 49 goals and 95 points, just narrowly missing the 30 goal mark last year. Taylor Hall is a key part of the Oilers’ future, and headlines a whole host of highly drafted and highly touted young Edmonton Oilers stars.

  Since the lockout, many players have traveled down to the American Hockey League and given AHL fans a higher level of play in their home arenas, while others have opted for European destinations. Last year’s Calder Trophy potential and fellow first overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been relatively productive for the Barons with 2 goals and 8 points, good for 2nd on the team, while off-season free-agent signee Justin Schultz is commanding the scoring leader boards with a league best 12 points through seven games from the blue line. The third of their first overall draft picks, Nail Yakupov last year, is currently playing in the KHL with Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik where he has tallied 8 goals and 11 points in 12 games.

  Hall, who signed a seven year contract extension in August worth $42 million, will finally have his chance to play alongside his fellow teammates for the first time since his injuries which included a concussion and shoulder surgery. The Oilers have quite probably the most exciting pool of young talent the NHL has to offer, and with a large group of them starting to warm back up in unison, the city of Edmonton will be ever hopeful that the league comes out of its’ current lock out.

- Kendall Grubbs