Here's what it's going to take for me to like this deal.
Lucic does anything at all positive, and isn't taking 2 stupid penalties a game.
That's all it takes folks.
Cuz Neal did nothing.
Nothing.
Didn't score, didn't defend, didn't cover, didn't control space or time. He skated in circles, disengaged from play, and waited, then complained about his usage.
So glad to see both him and Smitty gone, honestly, and as others have pointed out, this version of Neal is a born Oiler.
At least Lucic cares.
So I'm good. It's a your-junk-for-our-disaster trade, and while none of us should be joyful at the addition of Lucic (cuz it's not like adding a Lindholm) we can't be worried about Neal wowing anyone in Edmonton, cuz it won't matter if he scores 100, they'll still miss the playoffs cuz they don't have a defense (or a goalie really).
Neal really must have rubbed people wrong - none of us could image the Lucic contract being traded. And yet here we are. "Desperation" has been used, but I think the word might be "exasperation".
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