Taylor Hall, a player for the Chicago Blackhawks, was surprised to find himself as a healthy scratch in the recent game. The 33-year-old left wing expressed his shock at being benched as he had not been given any indication by coach Luke Richardson that this was a possibility. Hall, who is currently in his second season with the Blackhawks, has had a slow start to the season with six points in 17 games after recovering from ACL surgery on his right knee last season.
In a statement, Hall mentioned that he had not been in discussions with the coach about his performance leading up to the benching, so the decision caught him off guard. However, Richardson explained that he wanted Hall to have more practice time before being reinserted into the lineup. Despite the setback, Hall is expected to return to play against the Anaheim Ducks after a conversation with Richardson, where both parties claimed to be on the same page.
The coach admitted that his communication with Hall could have been better and recognized that veterans may need a different approach when it comes to such decisions. Richardson defended his choice to bench Hall, citing the player’s frustration and the need for a reset. The Blackhawks, currently struggling with the worst points percentage in the NHL, are looking to shake things up and get their underperforming players back on track.
Tyler Bertuzzi, another key player for the team, has the same number of points as Hall, while rookie of the year Connor Bedard leads the team in points but has been struggling to find the back of the net. The team is hoping that Hall’s return to the lineup will provide a much-needed boost and help turn their season around.