Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
Any decision on Neal has to come down to one single evaluation.
Is this James Neal version here to stay, or has a guy shooting at 30% of his normal career shooting percentage having an inexplicably bad (unlucky) year?
If it's the former than Kovalchuk would be a minor upgrade if you ignore all intangibles, and has a shorter contract.
If it's the latter you're selling on a down season and probably getting the lesser player for the next two years.
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Neal’s only skill is that shooting percentage, which looks like is gone (could come back, but likely not)
Even in that one category Kovalchuk is better. He’s put up 52 goals. He has one of the best shots of all time. It’s not just a minor upgrade.
He is better than Neal in every other aspect of the game hands down. Neal is an average passer and stick handler, and is an awful defensive player.