I've no idea how good Merkley and Schnarr are (though I really hope Schnarr makes the big club in Jersey if for no other reasons than the pun-worthiness of his name) but Bahl is a decent B-level prospect from what I understand. That's about the best they were going to get from a Taylor Hall rental, along with the 1st rounder.
And yeah, Manny Elk has been laying on the "Hall and Yotes" puns down pretty thick.
Bahl is essentially a REALLY big kid with decent skating and puck skill, but nothing elite. I'm kinda/sorta surprised the Devils couldn't pry Raanta from their clutches as well. I'd have thrown in a Domingue/Miles Wood package in addition...though it's possible the cap may have prevented that from happening.
Either way, Shero wanted a defensive prospect, and he got one.
What's disconcerting from NJ's perspective going forward is that Ty Smith is not the worldbeater he was when he was drafted. Certainly not a bust or anything, but the buzz on him has quieted. The Devils shouldn't necessarily be too concerned--they already have two franchise centers, and will get someone else substantial in the draft this year, but as of right now, they don't have an A-list defender or defensive prospect.
Now I'm curious as to who Hall gets paired with. Do they move Keller over to RW? Do they go with all the big guns and put Kessel over there? Lots of possibilities.