When it comes to the Boston Bruins farm system, one player who might get lost in the mix a bit is second-year Providence Bruins center, Curtis Hall.
The former Yale Bulldog turned pro in January when it became apparent that there would be no college campaign for Yale due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21. As a result, he had to decide whether to go back for an overage season in junior with the USHL or give up his remaining NCAA eligibility to play in the AHL, as missing an entire year was not the right option for his development.
"It's been a great experience jumping up to the next level," Hall said during media availability at this month’s development camp. "Unfortunately, with Yale, our season got canceled so I decided that rather than sitting around for a year I wanted to make the next step."
The fourth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft joined the Providence Bruins, eager to get his pro career going after a breakout second college season that saw him tally 17 goals and 27 points in 28 games. Unfortunately for him, he was knocked out of his AHL debut, with a lower-body injury.
“With all that being said, getting hurt in my first game wasn't the best start for me,” he said. "I was also handling a full semester of school so I guess it gave me a little bit of time to balance what was going on. It was great to just be there and meet all the staff, meet the players, and see what professional hockey is like. Really looking forward to next season."
Once he returned to action after about six weeks on the shelf, he didn’t see a lot of ice time in large part due to his inexperience. Just as he started to look more comfortable, the curtailed schedule came to an end, but he made sure to save some of his best hockey for last.
“I think for Curtis, he got his feet wet a little bit last year,” said Jamie Langenbrunner, Bruins Director of Player Development. “Unfortunately, getting injured right away set it back a little bit from the plan he had in place there. I think we saw what type of player we’re going to want towards the end. His last game of last season was his best by far as a pro and he did end up scoring in that game as well. I just think his approach is better.”
The Ohio native was a USHL tender with the Youngstown Phantoms, marking him as an early bloomer as one of the top 2000 birth-year players who wasn’t selected for the U.S. National Team Development Program. Although Hall never had a chance to put up big points in juniors, he did earn a draft call from the Bruins because of his size and potential to be an effective two-way center.
“He’s going to need to be a direct player, he’s going to need to continue to work on his mobility; his side-to-side movement. In a straight line, his downhill speed is very good but his mobility will need to continue to improve. And, learning to be a pro. How to manage pucks on the wall or in the middle. He has some habits that will continue to need to be worked on.”
Hall was put in a tough situation that was out of his hands. He likely would have put up big points had he returned to Youngstown, but as the league’s last-place team, playing at a lower level wasn’t going to bring him much closer to being an effective pro. Going to the AHL was the right call, and he should take steps forward in his second year. Don’t look for a lot of production, but instead focus on his role and how new head coach Ryan Mougenel employs him on the Providence roster. Hall’s versatility should earn him time on the penalty kill, and he has enough size and skill to play up in the lineup if needed and even see a PP role, though that won’t likely come right away.
“I think there are a lot of positives to his game,” Langenbrunner said, adding that the limited sample size made it tough to evaluate where Hall is, but bigger things are expected in his second AHL campaign.
Kirk’s Call on Curtis Hall:
Why he’ll succeed: Hall is a smart, multi-dimensional forward. It’s all about the role with him, so you don’t slot him into the mix expecting a lot of goals and points, though, with his quick-snap release, he’s proven he can score goals. When he goes to the net, he has the tall, long frame to make things happen. He's put on some good weight since his college days, checking in at 6-foot-2, 216 pounds at camp.
Why he could struggle: As Langenbrunner alluded to, his four-way skating needs to improve. He’s not particularly explosive in his first couple of steps and a lack of agility exposes him in the small areas.
Overall assessment: He is on track to be a solid AHL performer because of his size and IQ. Should adapt quickly and establish himself as a pleasant surprise. Hall is not a household name for those who are looking at other prospects with flashier games and statistics, but for a fourth-round selection, he's progressing in the right direction.
NHL ETA: Hall needs a full year in the AHL to prove his mettle and acclimate himself to pro hockey. His limited action last season certainly helped, but with Boston’s forward depth, there is no real need to bring him up anytime soon. By 2022-23, he could be ready to be called up for some games. Realistically, 2023 is when Hall could make his case to be a regular on the fourth line and try to work his way up from there.
