HALL OF A TIME

Devils’ lone All-Star tries to enjoy the experience

LOS ANGELES — When Taylor Hall got the phone call, he thought the question coming from the other end was “crazy.”

In his first year with the Devils, Hall was contacted by the league in January, asking him if he would be interested in going to the All-Star Game for the fourth time in his young career. The fact it was a question is what put him off.

“I was asked if I was selected, if I wanted to go, and I thought that was crazy that you even had to ask that question,” Hall told The Post before the on-ice festivities kicked off with Saturday’s skills competition at Staples Center, followed by the game itself Sunday.

“Some guys might take it for granted, but I’ve always loved these things, surrounding myself with the best players in the world, having my family out there and celebrate a little bit. It’s fun,” he said. “So we’re really looking forward to it, not only because it’s the All-Star Game but because I’m representing my new team. So I’m going to try to enjoy it.”

Hall was the focus of the hockey world over the summer, when he was part of a blockbuster trade with New Jersey general manager Ray Shero sending young defenseman Adam Larsson off to Edmonton in exchange for Hall. The first-overall pick from the 2010 draft already had shown his ability with the Oilers, putting up four seasons of 20-plus goals, plus 16 in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.

But no one was sure how he would deal with the New York area as a quiet 25-year-old from the outskirts of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Flying somewhat under the radar with the Devils, he has found his time in Newark gratifying — helped by leading the team with 31 points, including 11 goals.

“It’s been kind of an easier transition than I thought,” Hall said. “I still think that as a team and as an individual that I have more to give, and so does the team. I’m looking forward to the second half, the last 30, 35 games here, and seeing what we can build on.”

His Devils went into the break at 20-21-9, last in the Eastern Conference and just seven points out of the second wild-card spot. It is a long haul up the standings to pass eight teams, but Hall is optimistic they can make it an interesting second half.

“At the start of the year, we really had an identity as a team, and we played to that every night,” Hall said, as the Devils had won five in a row in mid-November, getting to 9-3-3 and surprising everyone before falling to earth with a thud. “We were healthy at that point. We didn’t have any injuries. Then as injuries started creeping into our game, that’s when we started to struggle a little bit. But we’re still in the thick of things. There’s still a lot of hockey left, and there are going to be teams that separate themselves after the All-Star break, so we have to stay on track.

“These last 30 games, the play ramps up. If we can ramp up or play and step over some teams, it would be fun.”

Hall also said he was excited thinking about what it might be like at Prudential Center if he can get his team back into contention. Being from Canada, previously having known Edmonton only as a home rink, it seemed like Hall was pleasantly surprised with the atmosphere around the Devils.

“It’s a lot different than what I’m used to up in Canada,” he said. “But the area has been great, the fan support and the lifestyle in the area around Newark and New York, it’s been a lot of fun. It’s been a nice change of pace for a guy like me from Canada. I’ve definitely enjoyed that part. I can only imagine, if we got into a playoff spot or got into the playoffs, it would be fun.”

Yet that still is a long way off. But if the Devils were able to turn things around in the second half, their lone All-Star will be leading the way.

“On the ice, it’s just the way we play, the identity of our team. I think I fit into that,” Hall said. “I still think as a team sometimes, we struggle to find offense, and I’m a focal point of that. I’d say that I’ve had a pretty good start to my career as a Devil, but I think that there’s more there. I’m looking forward to seeing what I can keep doing.”