I do hope that it continues. That contract is going to be an issue if he doesn't improve obviously - I don't think anyone can say with a straight face that ~10 goals a season for 5 seasons @5.75 is good value. In a cap world, a team HAS to get good value from as many contracts as possible. A team can always add cheap experience at the deadline for the third and fourth lines without term if that is what seems missing.
However, outside of one game, I also don't think that Neal has hurt the team. I also don't think that there is a single fan of the Flames who have watched every game and feel that the last 20 games of James Neal is the same player that was playing in the first 20 games to start the year. There has been a definite improvement both with and without the puck. One solid stretch of games where he starts getting the bounces can drastically alter everyone's perception of Neal, and as well give him some much needed confidence that can only help him pot a few more.
If Treliving acquires another solid piece for the top 9, this team will have some really solid depth heading into the playoffs. This team is essentially middle of the road at this point when looking outside the top 5 scorers on any team. Add a bit of a resurgence to Neal's game - reasonable to assume given his history and his increasingly better play - and suddenly this team will suddenly find itself with both an elite top line and crazy depth that would be difficult to contain.
I do think that any which way you look at it, at this point that Neal contract is more hindrance than help. I just think one can reasonably expect him to bounce back, and with the team doing so well, the team and the fans at large are afforded some patience with Neal finding his game again in Calgary.
|