[cupofjoe]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Neal is leading the league in goal scoring with 6 goals in 3 games.

The Flames were too deep. Neal was used to playing with top-6 players and the Flames wanted him to carry his own line.

Likely messed him up in the room as he obviously thought and was likely told he would be playing with Monahan/Gaudreau and at least Tkachuk/Backlund.

Neal might have defaulted into the #2 RW this year had he stayed on the Flames but we will never know.

The Flames needed the extra cap space that the Lucic/Neal trade brought to avoid buying out Frolik.