Quote:
Originally Posted by Duffalufagus
The Lucic trade killed this team. “Hey guys, I know Neal didn’t fit do, guess what? I’m bringing in the worst contract in the league”.
Seriously. This team got significantly worse on paper over the offseason. Combine that with 5 career years last year that predictably regressed and guess what? This team is what it has always been. Not a contender. Not even close.
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How does Lucic deleteriously affect the play of guys he doesn't play with? How does the acquisition of Lucic explain Gaudreau and Monahan both falling off a cliff? And how does losing the awful 2018-19 edition of James Neal equate to a dramatic "on-paper" regression, as you put it?
I think the Flames are far from competing with this roster, but it starts from the top-down. Neither Neal nor Lucic are even close to that top.