Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay Random
Neal was the most sought-after RW in free agency that year. He was not a player that ‘most teams gave up on’. Treliving knew the team needed shoring up on the right side, and rolled the dice on the only free agent who looked like he could fill the gap. He crapped out.
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I agree I loved the Neal signing when it was announced. The flames came off a brutal year offensively the previous year and needed some top 6 help. Lindholm was added at the cost of Ferland but there were no other upgrades. Neal represented the 25 goals/50 points the Flames were missing the previous year.
I was a big fan of that summer. Hamilton/Ferland for Hanifin/Lindholm was a move I liked and adding Ryan and Czarnik had promise but I still thought they needed more.
When the Flames got Neal I figured they added a sniper with some edge to his game who would fit amazing with Monahan and Gaudreau. When Lindholm took the spot it is quick to see Neal was not a fit with Backlund and Tkachuk and it failed miserably from there