"(Have) a feeling that’s not really in the cards": $24,000,000 Chicago Blackhawks veteran left foreshadowing about inevitable trade against his will 

Veteran Chicago Blackhawks forward Taylor Hall left little doubt about his uncertain future with the struggling franchise, currently last in the NHL, foreshadowing a trade out of Chicago before the March 7 deadline.

"I came into this year wanting to continue being a Blackhawk for years to come," Hall said via the Chicago Suntimes. "I don't know if that's going to be the case anymore. But I'll leave that door open, for sure. [I] understand that it's a business and the team is going to do what's best for them."

Hall is signed to a four-year, $24,000,000 contract expiring at the end of this season. While he would like to extend with the Blackhawks, he believes that looks less than likely at the moment.

"[Have] a feeling that’s not really in the cards," he added.

Hall holds a 10-team no-trade clause but expects Chicago to move him to a contender.

"Everyone in a contract year knows there's a lot of different ways things can go," Hall said. "I'm ready for anything. I have a great wife who is always ready for a good adventure. If that's here or if that's somewhere else, we'll figure it out."

With just eight goals and 22 points through 43 games, Hall hasn't produced at the level he or the Blackhawks hoped after returning from major knee surgery.

Hall's production likely limits Chicago's potential return to a mid-round pick. Still, clearing his $6 million cap hit could allow the Blackhawks to audition young players.

Despite his scoring woes, Hall leads Chicago in zone entries and could provide a playoff-bound team with secondary scoring and power-play support.

Taylor Hall's take on Chicago Blackhawks' poor season so far

The veteran forward hasn't shied away from criticizing the Blackhawks' dismal season. The club currently sits at the bottom of the NHL standings with a 14-28-2 record and has dropped nine of its last 11 games.

According to Hall, the team's struggles started right from the beginning.

"You look back even to our exhibition games, we got thumped in a lot of games," Hall said. "It just set our year off on a tough foot."

The rough start put the Chicago Blackhawks "behind the 8-ball" from the get-go and made it difficult to turn things around.

"For a veteran guy like myself, when that happens at the start of the year, you can see things are going to shake out a bit differently or maybe not how you want throughout the season," he added.

While it's been a frustrating year, Hall tries to maintain a positive attitude:

"I try to have the best attitude I can. I'm always going to be a good pro," he concluded.

The Chicago Blackhawks face the Nashville Predators next at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.