Head Coach Luke Richardson is making huge lineup changes in advance of the game tonight against Rick Tocchet and the Vancouver Canucks.

One of those decisions was to remove former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall from the lineup.

Hall hasn’t performed up to expectations this season, despite being healthy. He’s been a fixture on the Blackhawks second line, which has seen multiple center changes.

He’s had Nick Foligno and Philipp Kurashev centering himself, and Tyler Bertuzzi.

During that timeframe, Hall hasn’t been able to find the back of the net for someone who is supposed to be offensively gifted.

Hall has played 17 games posting only 6 points( 2 G, 4 A) which is a better start to this season, rather than last year.

Last season only saw him score 4 points in 10 games before the injury bug kept him out all year.

The Bruins traded Hall to the Chicago Blackhawks on June 26, 2023. His goal at 13:29 of the first period in a 6-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks at United Center on Oct. 22, 2024 was the 700th point of his NHL career.

Are the Blackhawks ruminating on that trade right now? While they did get a new Captain in Nick Foligno, along with Taylor Hall what did they get?

He hasn’t been the offensive weapon who scored 60 points in the Bruins system under Bruce Cassidy.

Nor has he been the kind of player who won the Hart Trophy in 2018

Hall had a breakout season with the Devils in 2017-18, finishing with NHL career highs in goals (39), assists (54) and points (93). He helped New Jersey qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2012 and won the Hart Trophy voted as most valuable player.

What’s the next steps for the Blackhawks and Hall?

Slotting in for Hall tonight, will be Ilya Mikheyev who has also had troubles getting going under Luke Richardson.

Is this merely a symptom, or is the cause of the anemic offense something larger? The potential wasted this season is ridiculous.