Quote:
Originally Posted by Strange Brew
While I agree with you that there is reason for hope that Neal will improve (and that is really the only option since trading him would be too expensive) I don’t know 10 goal pace Neal is above replacement level. The disengaged Neal we saw was pretty useless if not producing.
I don’t really know if things were working against him but I do believe there is a lot of pride there. And while I don’t agree with waiting to the last game to healthy scratch the guy, it might just be something that spurs him into having the offseason he needs.
30 goal Neal would be a boon to this team.
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Hopefully disengaged was misinterpreted. If the long playoff runs have bitten into his will to work out in the off season as well as time to work out in the off season he may just not have had the wind to go that extra mile on the forecheck or finish a check.
Pinder said he's heard from a few that Neal is already all over it, so that's at least a good sign this early in the off season.
30 would be great yes ... but given how last year went I think I'd take 15.