Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [Signing] Flames sign James Neal (5 years, 5.75 AAV)

Calgary4LIfe · 07-02-2018, 04:29 PM

I don't see much of a reason to complain here. Treliving hit it out of the park this off-season.

Yes, Neal is older, he is probably slowing down, but he has a lot to offer. This sets the Flames up with an incredible amount of versatility. Treliving wanted to address the leadership component for this team - I think he has done so.

I don't worry about term with Neal. So, ideally you wanted Neal for 3 years - IDEALLY. So what? In year 4 and 5, he will probably be noticeably slower and less effective, but who knows? Maybe he won't be. Even if he is, his contract is not much higher than Troy Brouwer's when you look at it. I have said it before and I will say it again - I wish Brouwer wasn't on this team, but if the Flames are going to have a terrible contract, that contract isn't so terrible at all. There are MANY worse contracts around the league.

Neal doesn't come with any clauses either - gives the Flames more flexibility if necessary.

If Neal falls flat on his face nearer the end of the term, it won't be so bad. This is 5 years of a very productive player who plays the game rough and has loads of leadership to offer. There is a lot of value from the get-go, and as it declines, it may even end up as a value contract towards the end.

I like it. I like the versatility that it brings the lineup. I can't make up any lines right now, as with Treliving stating that he wants to see Neal with Tkachuk, it makes it anyone's guess as to who the center might be.

Tkachuk - Bennett - Neal - that is the line I want to see. Full of piss and vinegar, and Bennett has the wheels to cover up for mistakes (and I think that Bennett has GREATLY grown his defensive acumen, which is why I would want him tried at center now that the Flames have decent wing options for him).

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Bennett - Neal
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik
Lazar - Ryan - Czarnik
Brouwer

Or

Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal
Tkachuk - Backlund - Lindholm
Bennett - Jankowski - Czarnik
Frolik - Ryan - Lazar

or

Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal
Jankowski - Backlund - Ryan
Bennett - Lindholm - Tkachuk
Frolik - Lazar - Czarnik

or..

or..

or..

Lots and lots of options.

I don't remember the Flames being this deep since the 07/08 season - maybe even before that. It was a simple thing to jot down a lineup and get agreement from 95% of people. Now?

Know who is really happy today? Bill "The Blender" Peters. He is going to have a field day mixing and matching lines. Who is going to argue with him? There is so many possibilities, especially with all the RHS and LHS, all the different centers, all the different speed and size variables, all the different levels of experience.

This is a pretty damn good team now. There are few if any holes - if there are any holes, they are minor. Prout can play every Edmonton Oilers game and keep those idiots up there in check. Other than that, let's see if Andersson makes that push that forces Treliving's hand.

Defence is going to be so much better with being more active. That is what this defence is good at. They are not a 'shut-down' type of D, and that's ok. They are a D that is best served playing aggressive and causing confusion to the other team. Gulutzan never grasped this in his tenure, and that is why the Flames' goals dropped.

The strength of this organization for the last several seasons has always been in the defence. After this series of moves thus far this off-season, I am not sure I would continue making that claim, and it isn't because I think the defensive corps has gotten worse really. I think the forward corps has improved drastically.

This should be a top 10 team in scoring this upcoming season, especially so given the changes. I thought the Flames - everything being equal other than for the coaching change - would be in the top half somewhere of goal scoring. With these changes and how difficult I think it is going to be for other teams to contain the Flames, I think they are easily in the top 10.

This is going to be one exciting year for the Flames.

07-02-2018, 04:29 PM	#445
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I don't see much of a reason to complain here. Treliving hit it out of the park this off-season. Yes, Neal is older, he is probably slowing down, but he has a lot to offer. This sets the Flames up with an incredible amount of versatility. Treliving wanted to address the leadership component for this team - I think he has done so. I don't worry about term with Neal. So, ideally you wanted Neal for 3 years - IDEALLY. So what? In year 4 and 5, he will probably be noticeably slower and less effective, but who knows? Maybe he won't be. Even if he is, his contract is not much higher than Troy Brouwer's when you look at it. I have said it before and I will say it again - I wish Brouwer wasn't on this team, but if the Flames are going to have a terrible contract, that contract isn't so terrible at all. There are MANY worse contracts around the league. Neal doesn't come with any clauses either - gives the Flames more flexibility if necessary. If Neal falls flat on his face nearer the end of the term, it won't be so bad. This is 5 years of a very productive player who plays the game rough and has loads of leadership to offer. There is a lot of value from the get-go, and as it declines, it may even end up as a value contract towards the end. I like it. I like the versatility that it brings the lineup. I can't make up any lines right now, as with Treliving stating that he wants to see Neal with Tkachuk, it makes it anyone's guess as to who the center might be. Tkachuk - Bennett - Neal - that is the line I want to see. Full of piss and vinegar, and Bennett has the wheels to cover up for mistakes (and I think that Bennett has GREATLY grown his defensive acumen, which is why I would want him tried at center now that the Flames have decent wing options for him). Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm Tkachuk - Bennett - Neal Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik Lazar - Ryan - Czarnik Brouwer Or Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal Tkachuk - Backlund - Lindholm Bennett - Jankowski - Czarnik Frolik - Ryan - Lazar or Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal Jankowski - Backlund - Ryan Bennett - Lindholm - Tkachuk Frolik - Lazar - Czarnik or.. or.. or.. Lots and lots of options. I don't remember the Flames being this deep since the 07/08 season - maybe even before that. It was a simple thing to jot down a lineup and get agreement from 95% of people. Now? Know who is really happy today? Bill "The Blender" Peters. He is going to have a field day mixing and matching lines. Who is going to argue with him? There is so many possibilities, especially with all the RHS and LHS, all the different centers, all the different speed and size variables, all the different levels of experience. This is a pretty damn good team now. There are few if any holes - if there are any holes, they are minor. Prout can play every Edmonton Oilers game and keep those idiots up there in check. Other than that, let's see if Andersson makes that push that forces Treliving's hand. Defence is going to be so much better with being more active. That is what this defence is good at. They are not a 'shut-down' type of D, and that's ok. They are a D that is best served playing aggressive and causing confusion to the other team. Gulutzan never grasped this in his tenure, and that is why the Flames' goals dropped. The strength of this organization for the last several seasons has always been in the defence. After this series of moves thus far this off-season, I am not sure I would continue making that claim, and it isn't because I think the defensive corps has gotten worse really. I think the forward corps has improved drastically. This should be a top 10 team in scoring this upcoming season, especially so given the changes. I thought the Flames - everything being equal other than for the coaching change - would be in the top half somewhere of goal scoring. With these changes and how difficult I think it is going to be for other teams to contain the Flames, I think they are easily in the top 10. This is going to be one exciting year for the Flames.