December 16, 2019 was a bittersweet day in New Jersey Devils’ history. It was on that day, almost three years ago, that New Jersey traded its star winger, Taylor Hall, to the Arizona Coyotes for a treasure trove of prospects and draft picks.
On the one hand, it marked the death of an era of optimism. One where fans hoped that, someday, their Hart Trophy forward would bring them a Stanley Cup. On the other hand, keen observers knew that this trade was absolutely vital if the Devils wanted to revive their rebuild.
Now, three years later, the legacy of this trade sits at the core of a Devils’ team that seems destined for one of the most successful regular seasons in franchise history. So, how are all the pieces of the trade doing?
Which Players Were Involved?
| Devils Receive: | Coyotes Receive: |
| Kevin Bahl (D) | Taylor Hall (F) |
| Nick Merkley (F) | Blake Speers (F) |
| Nate Schnarr (F) | |
| Conditional 2020 first-round pick | |
| Conditional 2021 third-round pick |
To start off, let’s go over the players that were part of this trade. In exchange for Taylor Hall and forward Blake Speers, the Devils received defenseman Kevin Bahl, forwards Nick Merkley and Nate Schnarr, a conditional 2020 first-round pick, and a conditional 2021 third-round pick. They used the first-round pick to select Dawson Mercer at 18th overall. They then traded the third-round pick to the Washington Capitals in exchange for defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler.
Jonas Siegenthaler
Ironically, the most important player in this article came from the least important part of the deal: the 2021 third-round pick. Siegenthaler was not a key cog for the Capitals, only playing seven games for them in the 2020-21 season. He flipped the script in Jersey, becoming an integral part of the defense last season.
His Impact on the Current Team
Let’s be clear: Jonas Siegenthaler is no offensive dynamo and never has been. He has just eight points in 21 games so far this season. Though, his offensive impacts this season have been tremendous as a whole.
Where the young Swiss shines, however, is on the defensive side of the puck. As you can see in the chart above, his possession metrics are, quite literally, off the charts. He has a fantastic 57.31 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) and a 63.31 expected goals-for percentage (xGF%). Simply, when he’s on the ice the Devils are dominating.
This domination manifests in the subtle aspects of the game. Siegenthaler is adept at breaking up his opponent’s offensive rhythm by blocking shots, getting in passing lanes, breaking up odd-man rushes, and clearing the puck out of danger. He has quickly become one of the best defensive-defenseman in the NHL.
Overall, Jonas Siegenthaler is a vital component in a thriving Devils’ defense. He plays on the top pair with Dougie Hamilton and averages over 20 minutes of ice time per game. Not to mention, last year Siegenthaler, per defensive goals above replacement, was the best defensive defenseman in the entire league. New Jersey would not be as successful this year without Jonas Siegenthaler.
Dawson Mercer
Dawson Mercer was acquired using the 2020 first-round pick. He only needed one season in the QMJHL to prove his worth, scoring 36 points in 23 games during 2020-21. He broke camp with the team in 2021-22, playing a key role in all 82 games.
His Impact on the Current Team
Mercer has been serviceable, but not amazing on offense this year with five goals and 15 points in 26 games. This is a 19-goal and 47-point pace. Additionally, Mercer has good underlying numbers with a 54.80 CF% and a 61.10 xG%.
Mercer’s true value, however, comes from his durability. He hasn’t missed a single game since coming into the league, including all 26 this year. He is also highly versatile, bouncing around the depth chart to wherever he is needed. The young Newfoundlander plays most of his time on the third line, but constantly switches around – sometimes mid-game – to spark the Devils’ attack.
Bottom-line, looks like the Devils got a good one in Mercer. Especially given the 18th-overall pick has the fifth-most points and fourth-most games played of any draftee in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Kevin Bahl
At the time of the trade, it seemed like Bahl would be the centerpiece. Unfortunately, he has only played 28 NHL games since the deal. He played mediocre hockey in 17 games last year, amassing three points with sub-par underlying metrics. Bahl has only played four NHL games so far this season. Though, in those four games, and in preseason, Bahl looked very strong.
Head coach Lindy Ruff has been rolling with a consistent top-six on defense this year, but it seems that Bahl would be the first man up in the event of an injury. While Kevin Bahl hasn’t made his mark in New Jersey, he is a fundamental part of the team’s overall structure.
Merkley and Schnarr
The other players the Devils landed in the deal – Nicholas Merkley and Nate Schnarr – had very little impact before they departed. Merkley played 27 games for Jersey in 2020-21 before he was traded to the San Jose Sharks that offseason for Christian Jaros. Jaros played 11 games for the Devils last season before he refused a demotion to the AHL, cleared waivers, and signed a contract with Avangard Omsk of the KHL.
Nate Schnarr played exclusively for the Binghamton Devils/Utica Comets during his time in the Devils’ organization. He was traded at the deadline last season to the Montreal Canadiens for goaltender Andrew Hammond. Hammond was merely an emergency solution to the goaltending injuries that plagued the Devils last season. His claim to fame is that he shut down the Vegas Golden Knights’ playoff hopes with a win in late April. Though, overall, Hammond was woeful for New Jersey.
Overall, Merkley and Schnarr had no real impact on the current team.
Conclusion
The Taylor Hall trade needed to happen, there can be no doubt about that. Although he remains the only Hart Trophy winner in franchise history, the team was struggling and he was on an expiring contract. The hope at the time was that the capital he brought in would be the foundation for a bright future in Jersey. Thanks to the combined efforts of general managers Ray Shero and Tom Fitzgerald, that hope became a reality.
The two most important pieces of the deal were Jonas Siegenthaler and Dawson Mercer. They have played consistently good hockey this year and will be key contributors down the stretch. Hopefully, they will be crucial pieces for a playoff team.
As for Kevin Bahl, Nick Merkley, and Nate Schnarr, their impact on the current team has been limited to none, but that’s just how it goes for the complimentary pieces in a big-name trade. Though, expect Kevin Bahl to figure heavily into the future of the team.
Though, Taylor Hall was here for a relatively small, unsuccessful period in franchise history, his legacy has left a visible mark on a resurgent Devils team. He also left fans with a ton of terrific memories.