[Signing] Flames sign James Neal (5 years, 5.75 AAV)

[PlayfulGenius]

When is the last time Neal played on a line with a player of Gaudreau's caliber, offensively?

[bluejays]

To me, this deal is a half a million more expensive as well as a year or two higher than wanted, but it's not a gross overpayment considering the amount of teams that had cap space. So I like it, and I like that they've gone for speed and skill this off-season instead of grit. I'd still like to see a little more scoring from the lower lines, and perhaps Brodie could be dealt to get that, while bringing in a guy like Orpik for the stay at home aspect, but as a fan I'm very pleased that Treliving has gone all-in to the new NHL style.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

Well, I am glad the extra money for season tickets was put to good use. Kudos to ownership as I really thought they were going to hold back with an $80 million cap.

I expected the Flames to stop being a cap team this year with the uncertainty of the arena deal and the low canadian dollar etc. Good for them for continuing to support the product on the ice.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Wow! Didn't expect this.

[JurassicTunga12]

Damn, I'm pumped. Neal was the guy I wanted the Flames to sign for a while when FA was approaching.
Flames are very much improved now.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Why do people suddenly want to get rid of Frolik?

Brouwer makes sense as a buyout candidate or a favour-take from a cap basement team, but Frolik can actually play.

Biggest reasons I can see are Czarnik, Mangiapane, Foo, Klimchuk, Lazar are all pushing; Lindholm, Hanifin and Jankowski among those RFA’s that need to be signed and only 13 mill left to do so; Tkachuk extension coming with very little coming off the books next UFA period and it makes sense to sell on Frolik now to maybe a team that is desperate to add after not getting what they want on free agency.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm going to hold off on declarations like this as it feels like we've been burned before. I think the goaltending situation is still a bit of a question mark and we have seen bad goaltending sink teams in the past. I think the roster is improved over last season and it's a matter of how long it takes the new coach and new players to all get on the same page as for whatever reason this organization is almost always a slow starter. The team should have made the playoffs last season but questionable coaching and mediocre goaltending cost them.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I expected the Flames to stop being a cap team this year with the uncertainty of the arena deal and the low canadian dollar etc. Good for them for continuing to support the product on the ice.

Since 2004 the owners have had no issues paying for salaries up to the cap ceiling. Flames fans have been pretty fortunate to have an ownership group that's been willing to spend whatever it takes to win on the ice. I feel the arena situation has kind of distracted many from the fact this is one of the best ownership groups in the league.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Why do people suddenly want to get rid of Frolik?

Brouwer makes sense as a buyout candidate or a favour-take from a cap basement team, but Frolik can actually play.

I don't think most people want to get rid of Frolik but we are going to be over the cap, he makes 4.3M and he is moveable. Someone has to go. Which cap basement team do you think is going to do us a favor take Brouwer?

[Buff]

The Flames are now a real deal. Not because they signed The Real Deal James Neal but because of the changes they have made this year. There is more to come too. They need to make a couple of small tweaks.

We lost Hamilton in a trade? Well, there was always questions about his compete level. Somebody else can worry about those levels. Hanifin will be better than Dougie in a few years and he brings enough to the table to be a good contributor now.

Lindholm is an improvement over Ferland.

Ryan is great depth who can fill into many roles.

Czarnik is a wild card who has potential and won't hurt the team.

Then James Neal. He can score. He can play on either of the top two lines. He is a good addition.

Each of these additions are good additions but I wouldn't say that each one is the player they needed to push the Flames to the next step. The entire group of players coming in helps the team as a whole. I like what Treliving has done.

[Toonage]

For the first time in what feels like ages, I'm reading everyone's mock line ups and they all look good. Cannot wait to get this season going now!

[Shin Pad]

I like this signing. It is overpayment, but that's to be expected at this time of the year. The Flames lineup looks very solid. Let's hope Smith stays healthy.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

I think with the improvements throughout the lineup Brouwer will easily waive his NTC even to a team he had on his list if it meant more opportunity. If we include Stone or Frolik in the deal it could make it more palatable for the team acquiring.

Stone + Brouwer (Minor % retained) to Ottawa? They have a few picks they could deal — Pittsburgh 3rd + Ottawa 5th?

Definitely not going to happen with Ottawa. Melnyk would never take on that kind of salary with nothing going back the other way.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

Biggest reasons I can see are Czarnik, Mangiapane, Foo, Klimchuk, Lazar are all pushing; Lindholm, Hanifin and Jankowski among those RFA’s that need to be signed and only 13 mill left to do so; Tkachuk extension coming with very little coming off the books next UFA period and it makes sense to sell on Frolik now to maybe a team that is desperate to add after not getting what they want on free agency.

Unless you need the cash to get your signings done, it makes 0 sense to love Frolik now, unless you think the return makes you better now. There is no need to make a spot for those players you mention, who non of have even come close to showing they can play at Froliks level. Let them make Frolik obsolete before you move him, isn’t the goal to ice the best team at this point for the Flames? Again unless the return makes you better now, or you need the cap for something why make us worse going into the season simply to remove a perceived log jam of players?

You can always move him after this season for a futures trade or for Chucks cap space.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Definitely not going to happen with Ottawa. Melnyk would never take on that kind of salary with nothing going back the other way.

Ok, we'll take Karlsson if we must

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Yeah, we need more team toughness, and Neal fills that. But he crosses the line too often. And that's not a good thing. But, it's part of the package.

You could say the exact same thing about Matthew Tkachuk. I'll take more Tkachuk type players any day of the week thank you very much.

[JohnnyHockey]

Is it October yet??!!

[oldschoolcalgary]

the pics of Commodore golfing with Neal gave me a bit of hope tbh... good thing we had great weather this weekend!

this is a solid signing, as many said, probably a 1yr too long and 500k to much... but actually less than i thought as i thought 7 years as well..

the lack of movement protection is surprising though!

really excited with the changes BT has made... Neal is an SOB on the ice... we needed some of that, esp with Ferland gone.

very good signing... now need to shed some salary if we can... Stone and Brouwer seem like the most likely players

[jg13]

Originally Posted by PlayfulGenius

When is the last time Neal played on a line with a player of Gaudreau's caliber, offensively?

He put up 40 one year playing alongside Malkin if I recall correctly.

[Roof-Daddy]

Are they going to have a presser to introduce the new players?

Dayum that's a lot of new players.

Lindholm, Hanifin, Neal, Ryan, Czarnik