You’ve read the title, and you already know where I’m going with this. So let’s just jump in, play a little devil’s advocate (pun absolutely intended).
I don’t think the Colorado Avalanche don’t need Taylor Hall. There, I said it.
The reality of the situation is the New Jersey Devils are a disaster this season. They just relieved their coach of his duties, they sit at the bottom of the NHL standings — keeping warm with the “once-greats” like the Detroit Red Wings or the L.A. Kings or the Chicago Blackhawks — their star winger isn’t going to re-sign with them, and so naturally, GM Ray Shero is going to do all he can to get some pieces back to his team, rather than watch Hall walk away for nothing when his contract expires this offseason.