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Edmonton Oilers: It’s OK for Hall, McDavid to Room Together

By Sammi Silber

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Yesterday afternoon, the Toronto Sun, along with a few other sources and sites, reported that Edmonton Oilers assistant captain, Taylor Hall, will be rooming with our beloved top prospect, Connor McDavid.

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Signal many Oilers fans freaking out and running around as if a bomb just exploded and went off.  However, I’m here to tell fans this: stop worrying about Hall and McDavid rooming together.  It will not ruin the young star, and it may actually work out for the better.  Before you shake your head and continue freaking out, keep reading so I can explain.

First off, many would argue that Taylor Hall would be a negative influence on McDavid, since it is reported that he has spent many nights clubbing and going out.  Some would argue that it has ruined his on-ice performance, and yes, he has not lived up to his potential so something must be affecting it.

“It is reported that he has spent many nights clubbing and going out.”  Fans, let’s go over what the word “report” truly means.  Report does not necessarily mean that it is true.  As a journalist, there are legitimate sources that report news, such as the Edmonton Journal and other trustworthy news sources.  But then, there are other sites, such as talk-sports.net and thedirty.com, that have “reported” news, including the news that he has gone out to bars and night clubs, drinks too much and acts rudely to those around him.

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After an intense Google search to find evidence that Taylor Hall does in fact go out, the only sites I found are the two above, thedirty.com and talk-sports.net.  Thedirty.com is an Edmonton gossip site and reported on Hall’s out-of-control clubbing three years ago.  Talk-sports.net is a public forum that posed questions about Taylor Hall’s behavior, reporting that he is rude to fans at bars and that he drinks too much.

Although there are other fans and people who have seen Taylor Hall at bars and clubs, there is no true evidence to say that he goes out every single night and plays out as a terrible influence.  So why do we believe, as fans, with the only article reporting Hall’s activity on a gossip site from three years ago, that Taylor Hall has a clubbing and drinking problem?

Speculation is not the reason that fans should be hesitant about Hall living with McDavid.  In fact, it could have been Hall’s former roommates (Jordan Eberle, anyone?) negatively influencing him.  But you don’t see that coming up on Twitter, do you?

Let’s move on to the next point.  McDavid is an 18-year-old boy, and Hall is only a few years older.  Both of them have something in common: they are both adults and they are both responsible.  McDavid knows how to live with someone else and still maintain a good performance on the ice.  He knows his limits, and he knows whether or not to do something crazy.  He is still a teenager, yes, and we want to do whatever we can to protect this kid, but not to the point where we treat him like a lost puppy.

Think of it this way.  At BioSteel camp, Hall and McDavid had a great connection and great chemistry.  They connected and bounced off each other on and off the ice.  With this going on, they seem to be great friends, as well as great line mates.  That being said, what’s stopping them from being great roommates and learning more from each other, such as hockey techniques and different mentalities.  They could just be close friends.

Since they are friends, that doesn’t mean McDavid will fall into peer pressure and follow in Hall’s footsteps.  He knows that he needs to be ready for a big game, or that he has limits.  And Hall may not even be into the party scene every night living with a different person.  The point is, is that fans never know what’s truly going on, and just because the two are rooming together doesn’t mean McDavid will fall into a party scene.

McDavid knows the pressure on him, and he knows how important it is to be a part of this Oilers team.  He is also fully dedicated and honors the orange and blue, so he is not going to ruin that, as well as his whole career, by simply living with Taylor Hall.  He’s a big boy, and he can live with Hall if he wants.

The same goes for Hall.  He is aware this organization is trying to turn around and that McDavid is important.  He will not do anything but do his best to protect McDavid and develop him further into an amazing player, as well as even learn a few things from the youngster himself.

This rooming situation will not bring parties, I believe, but it will bring two linemates closer together and make them one of the top dynamic duos in the NHL, as I argued in this post here.

In addition, think of the direction this team is headed in.  Todd McLellan and Peter Chiarelli are no-tolerance guys.  They will not stand for parties and continuous activity.  So, if Hall is really out of control, wouldn’t they do something about it?  Wouldn’t they avoid putting McDavid with him, or wouldn’t they say, “You two can room, but the parties need to stop?”  If there were red flags, I think that the front office would handle them well.

This team is looking to become better.  The living situation is not all about player performance, and if it affects performance, something will be done.  There is nothing I see wrong with these two rooming together, because if the coaching staff and front office remains fine with it, I am fine with it.  And if something (even though hopefully nothing will) happens, the situation will be handled.

Relax, fans.  It will all be fine.  Hall and McDavid will be fine rooming together, and nothing will happen except better chemistry between the two.  And if not, then they will just find different roommates.  For now, the speculation must stop, and fans must look forward to the season, rather than fretting over who McDavid is living with.

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