Quote:
Originally Posted by DazzlinDino
There may have been other factors. There was some mention that he was not seeing eye to eye with the coach. This is not helpful to the coach and a distraction to getting the team on the same page... "if one guy is deliberately showing his disapproval on and off the ice". I don't think it was just a matter of him not playing in the top six but the added philosophical differences with the coach. An interesting question, Did the "Neal factor" affect the teams performance during the playoffs? I am guessing it was more of a wedge and factor. Hard for the team to sustain momentum if certain players are unhinged, coasting and being a distraction.
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In other words the coach wanted him to do SOMETHING useful and he disagreed that he should have to do that. If Neal's salary was zero he still had a negative impact on the team. Not to say that BT isn't to blame. I do the trade every single time even without the retained salary and possible 3rd(unfortunately another 1st OA for the Oilers is more likely than us getting a 3rd). But the signing is a big black mark that he should definitely be held accountable for.