Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall did not make the trip to the rink with his team for practice on Wednesday, a day after he was the victim of a freak accident in Columbus.
Various reports have stated that the Oilers rising star would be out for the rest of the season.
According to Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini issued the following: “Despite inaccurate reporting, Oilers forward Taylor Hall is not out for the season and is looking forward to returning to the lineup as soon as possible.”
Hall responded to the reports with a tweet Wednesday night: “The reports that I’m out for the season aren’t true. I am going to be back as soon as possible. Thanks for all the get well responses.”
Hall tripped on a puck during the warm-up prior to the Oilers’ 4-2 loss to the last place Blue Jackets on Tuesday. He knocked down Ladislav Smid and the two slid into the boards where defenceman Corey Potter accidentally clipped Hall in the forehead with his skate while attempting to jump over them.
The 20-year-old was immediately taken to the dressing room where a plastic surgeon stitched him up.
Although it appears Hall is recovering well, it was a jarring scene for his teammates. “I saw the whole thing happen. It was pretty scary,” Oilers captain Shawn Horcoff told Sportsnet after the game.
“When I first saw (the cut), it was from eyebrow to hair line, and about a half-inch open. Right down to the bone. He was kind of in shock … Just a really scary moment.”
Potter described it as terrible. “I had two guys sliding at me, and just tried to get out of the way,” Potter said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cut that bad. It was pretty deep, and long. Pretty gross.”
Despite the gruesome injury, Hall kept a positive attitude. Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini told the Edmonton Journal, “I was talking to him while the doctors were with him and, typical Taylor, he said, ‘I’ll be playing tonight.'”
With forwards Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle recovering from injuries, Hall had taken the reigns and was on his best stretch of the season, scoring five goals and adding two assists in his last seven games.
Oilers head coach Tom Renney said it’s unlikely Hall would be available to play in Edmonton’s next game as the team visits the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.
“Spoke to him and he’s doing much better. Swelling has gone down. He had a good night sleep. I’d call him doubtful for (Thursday),” Renney said.
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