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keenan87 · 07-19-2019, 03:14 PM

Okay, thought about it a bit more.

1. With a 600k retention, the Oilers are effectively paying Neal 6.35 mil a year. Let that sink in for a little bit.

2. If Lucic completely waives his NMC, then the Flames don't have to protect him in the expansion draft.

3. Neal didn't fit in at all with this team. On or off the ice. On the ice, he was slow and could not keep up with the puck. Off the ice he seemed to have a unpleasant attitude right from the start about the China trip. That always bugged me because a new player should have been ready to bond with new teammates.

4. Yes, Neal can score 20 goals next season with McDavid. However, does anyone actually think Peters was going to give him much of a chance next season to play with Gaudreau on the top line? Let's be realistic, if Neal scores 20 goals with McDavid.. its not the case he was going to do that here. McDavid makes plugs score 20 goals all the time..Neal needs to score 40 goals for me to think he would have gotten 20 in Calgary.

5. There are reports apparently that Lucic has really been focused on working out and training this off-season to get better. I am not a huge fan of his but I think he will come in extremely motivated and I look forward to him protecting the Flames players...something no other player could do last season. Lucic will also be a good fit on the third line and won't have the same expectations as he did in Edmonton.

I may be wrong but I am ready to give Lucic a chance and hope he turns into a beast again given the new opportunity. Yes, the contract sucks but so did Neal's contract

Not my ideal.. but I am happier going in with Talbot and Lucic instead of Neal and Smith... both guys who shat the bed for the majority of last season are gone.

07-19-2019, 03:14 PM	#506
keenan87 Franchise Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Flames Town Exp:	Okay, thought about it a bit more. 1. With a 600k retention, the Oilers are effectively paying Neal 6.35 mil a year. Let that sink in for a little bit. 2. If Lucic completely waives his NMC, then the Flames don't have to protect him in the expansion draft. 3. Neal didn't fit in at all with this team. On or off the ice. On the ice, he was slow and could not keep up with the puck. Off the ice he seemed to have a unpleasant attitude right from the start about the China trip. That always bugged me because a new player should have been ready to bond with new teammates. 4. Yes, Neal can score 20 goals next season with McDavid. However, does anyone actually think Peters was going to give him much of a chance next season to play with Gaudreau on the top line? Let's be realistic, if Neal scores 20 goals with McDavid.. its not the case he was going to do that here. McDavid makes plugs score 20 goals all the time..Neal needs to score 40 goals for me to think he would have gotten 20 in Calgary. 5. There are reports apparently that Lucic has really been focused on working out and training this off-season to get better. I am not a huge fan of his but I think he will come in extremely motivated and I look forward to him protecting the Flames players...something no other player could do last season. Lucic will also be a good fit on the third line and won't have the same expectations as he did in Edmonton. I may be wrong but I am ready to give Lucic a chance and hope he turns into a beast again given the new opportunity. Yes, the contract sucks but so did Neal's contract Not my ideal.. but I am happier going in with Talbot and Lucic instead of Neal and Smith... both guys who shat the bed for the majority of last season are gone.