Hurricanes Activate Taylor Hall; Reassign Skyler Brind’Amour

The Carolina Hurricanes are nearing a fully healthy roster. According to a team announcement, the Hurricanes activated veteran winger Taylor Hall from the injured reserve. In a corresponding roster move, Carolina assigned forward Skyler Brind’Amour to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.

Hall, 34, has been on the injured reserve for the past few weeks. In Carolina’s October 13th matchup against the Washington Capitals, Hall exited prematurely with an upper-body injury. Before the injury, Hall scored three goals and five points in eight games with a +2 rating, averaging 13:01 of ice time per game.

It’ll be interesting to see how head coach Rod Brind’Amour utilizes Hall tomorrow against the Boston Bruins. Hall played on a line with Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake before exiting the lineup, and the trio averaged a tremendous 60.9% xGoals%. However, since Hall was placed on the injured reserve, Stankoven and Blake have played with Nikolaj Ehlers. That line has averaged an exceptional 71.1% xGoals% and is arguably one of the league’s best forward combinations.

Still, especially after last year’s run to a Stanley Cup championship, Hall will likely rejoin Stankoven and Blake. The Hurricanes could then move William Carrier from the top line for Ehlers. Regardless of how they reorient their forward lines with Hall, Carolina has a good problem on their hands.

Meanwhile, Brind’Amour returns to AHL Chicago after filling in for Mark Jankowski. Jankowski has missed the last few games with a lower-body injury, and while he’s not expected to play against the Bruins, he should return relatively soon after. In his two-game stint with the Hurricanes, Brind’Amour went scoreless while winning 50% of his faceoffs.