Taylor Hall was 5 years old when he first laced his skates. Now, at 29 years of age, we chat with the Bruins left wing about his career goals, what he loves about our city and his advice to his younger self.
Of note, Hall is partnering with the David K. Johnson Foundation to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s.
What makes this opportunity to play for the Boston Bruins so special? There’s so much about the team and the organization that’s appealing to someone coming in. Obviously, [it’s] a franchise that has a lot of history and a team that’s been really successful over the last decade. It’s always been tough coming into Boston to play the Bruins. They’ve always been a team that is known throughout the league for having a good culture, always a good group of guys and a city that really cares about their team.
What are some of your favorite local spots so far? We take our dog Leo to the Middlesex Fells Reservation every few days. That’s been a nice spot for us to go. ... We live in Seaport right now, so we’re trying to go through every restaurant here. We’ve been to Lola42 a few times, which I find to be an awesome place especially if you have guests in town. Their menu is so big and everything’s really good. Del Frisco’s Grille on the water is a great view.
What is your goal with the team this season? The obvious answer for this year would be to win a Stanley Cup. And in saying that, there’s a process involved. We have a lot of new faces on our team this year, and it’s about incorporating those faces and making everyone feel welcome. And at the end of the day, becoming a team that’s hitting our stride as the playoff comes, because that’s really what matters. It’s great to have a solid regular season and have a good record and everything, but, for our team, we’re built for the playoffs.
Knowing what you know now, what would your advice be to your younger self? When I was younger, I probably put just a little bit too much pressure on myself. And I don’t know if I enjoyed things as much as I could have when I was 19, 20 [years old]. I was drafted number one; I put a lot of pressure on myself. So that’s all I’d say is just to enjoy it more. And I’m sure 10 years from now, if you asked me to talk to me now, I’d probably be saying the same thing: Just enjoy it more, put a smile on and do your best.
What are some of your projects outside of the Bruins? I’m still kind of making my way around Boston and figuring out what I want to do, but I’ve been touched by Alzheimer’s in my family recently, and that’s something I’m looking to get involved with in the Boston area—an Alzheimer’s charity and in lending myself to whatever I can do to help
Photography by: Courtesy of Getty Images
