16 Years After Being Drafted No. 1, Taylor Hall Finally Has His Stanley Cup — and a Weird Piece of History

Taylor Hall has spent more than a decade and a half trying to get here. On Monday night, the veteran winger finally skated with the Stanley Cup over his head — and in doing so, carved out a footnote that’s equal parts impressive and bittersweet.

The Carolina Hurricanes closed out the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 with a 3-0 shutout, securing the franchise’s second championship. But for Hall, the moment carried extra weight. According to the ESPN broadcast, his 16-year gap between being selected No. 1 overall in the NHL Draft and winning his first Cup is the longest such stretch in league history.

That’s a record no player sets out to break. But it’s also a testament to perseverance — through bad teams, bad contracts, and bad luck.

From Edmonton to Nowhere Fast

Hall was the crown jewel of the 2010 draft, taken first overall by the Edmonton Oilers during what fans now call the Decade of Darkness. He was electric from the start, posting 80 points in 2013-14. But Edmonton was a mess. The team couldn’t build around him, and in 2016, they shipped him to New Jersey for Adam Larsson — a trade that still haunts Oilers fans.

In New Jersey, Hall won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2018, scoring 39 goals and 94 points. Those remain career highs. But injuries derailed his tenure, and the Devils eventually moved on. From there, Hall bounced to Arizona, then Buffalo, then Chicago. Seven teams in total.

“He’s been through a lot,” one league insider told reporters after the game. “You’re happy to see a guy like that finally get his moment.”

Carolina’s Gamble Paid Off

The Hurricanes acquired Hall from the Blackhawks in 2025, betting that his playoff experience and veteran savvy could push them over the top. In Game 6, he scored the opening goal and set a franchise record for most points on the road in a single postseason.

Carolina’s defense did the rest. The Hurricanes smothered Vegas, surrendering zero goals and relying on a stellar performance from their netminder to close out the series. It was the kind of complete team effort general managers dream about — but Hall was the story.

For a player who spent years watching other No. 1 picks win early — Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews — Hall’s path was anything but easy. Now, at 33, he’s got the ring. And a trivia question that might stick around for a while.