Tyler Seguin doesn’t look like Taylor Hall, or does he? It appears that people in Boston think so.
“Yeah it’s happened to me a few times where I have been called Taylor Hall,” said Seguin. It also has happened to Hall, but for different reasons. “I always get called Tyler only because people seem to have a problem with Taylor, but not because they think I’m Seguin,” said Hall.
It’s hard to fathom mistaking the two on image alone, besides the similarities in their build (Hall is listed at 6-foot-1, 194 pounds and Seguin a comparable 6-foot-1, 182 pounds). The two aren’t being compared because of their looks, however, but rather because of the Taylor-Tyler storyline that emerged going into the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
It was a whirlwind for both that eventually saw Hall go No. 1 one and Seguin No. 2.
“We spent a lot of time – four of five months – being talked about and then we spent a lot of time together going into the draft,” said Seguin. “We were compared at the time and we’ll continue to be compared throughout our careers.”
The last time they saw each other was at the 2010 NHL All-Star Game. At that time Hall was on his way to a 22-goal, 42-point season despite missing 17 games. Seguin’s regular season was pedestrian with 11 goals and 11 assists, giving him as many points, 22, as Hall had goals.
However while Hall’s Oilers finished last Seguin’s Bruins – in part because of his 13-game, seven-point playoff performance – won the Cup.
“He won the Cup and I wish him the best,” said Hall. “I wasn’t jealous to see him holding the Cup. It’s tough to watch any team but your own win.”
It’s been almost as difficult to crown a winner in the Taylor-Tyler sweepstakes. Hall has had a solid start with three goals and nine points, but Seguin has burst out of the gate with eight goals and 15 points.
“I think the experience of last year was a big help for me and that’s why I just feel more comfortable this year,” said Seguin.
Hall’s numbers aren’t bad, but his own assessment suggests he feels they should be better.
“I think the first eight games of the season were good but I would say the last four or five haven’t been very good,” said Hall.
They encountered each other countless times on the ice while Hall was with the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires and Seguin with the Plymouth Whalers. Thursday night when Edmonton is in Boston it will be the second game the two have played against each other since graduating from junior. The first came last February when Boston beat Edmonton 3-2. Neither registered a point in the contest.