Isn't the trade on pace to become
To EDM
Neal + an additional 750k cap bite
To CGY
Lucic - 750k cap
3rd Round Pick
When watching Lucic, I ignore what he is being paid as we really didn't have any option.... we were going to have a player with that cap hit regardless so which player do I prefer?
Lucic has added some serious jam to the team and also make the games more fun to watch knowing if something happens, we have someone to take care of it not named Tkachuk or Bennett.
Neal is scoring at a great clip and good for him. He has made the oilers better but I wouldn't make a trade based on what it will possibly do for the other team. You trade for your own team.
To this point in the season, with the cap space the oilers gave (required to sign Tkachuk and keep the same team) and the third round pick, I call the trade very even.
If the Oilers do not protect Neal and he is taken off their hands for free, then the Oilers win the trade unless our third round pick turns into a NHL player. At this rate, the Oilers may protect Neal and we would have to assess the trade in 2-3 years. If Neal isn't putting 12+ goals in the net at that point, it is a anchor for an anchor but we will have a third rounder, cap space and a gritty player to show for it.
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