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

[Mike F]

Flames needed goals from RW. James Neal scores goals from RW. In particular, he's a guy that can set up in the right circle and pound pucks in from 20 feet, something this team, and particularly the PP, has been sorely missing. I could see Neal scoring 15 PP goals next season with Gaudreau's vision and passing, and teams needing to honour Monahan in the high slot.

Is he older than I'd like, getting paid more than I'd like for longer than I'd like? Yes. But the Flames can afford it because Treliving did his heavy lifting the last couple of years, getting the core of the team locked up long term for what are clearly now steals of contracts in the Post-Chiarelli marketplace.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by sa226

As a slight tangent. Recent article notwithstanding, Duha is one of the best. If he was in TV he would be just as famous and respected as Bob Mckenzie.

Agreed, which makes it odd that CBC had him every Saturday night on their 2nd intermission "Satellite Hotstove" for probably a good 3 seasons before canceling it 3 years ago.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by browna

Gilbertson tweet, Neal's words:
#Flames new guy James Neal: "I want to win. I feel like we’re really close to doing that and hopefully I can be that piece that pushes us over the edge and gives us what we need to win a Stanley Cup in Calgary."

From a guy a few games away from a Cup...

To get that close and not win it, you just know the guy is itching to try again as soon as possible.

[Heavy Jack]

Darren Haynes
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Notable with James Neal is his goal total isn't propped up by PP goals. Over the last five seasons, his average of 0.29 ES goals/game ranks 15th behind (in order) Matthews, McDavid, Tarasenko, Ovechkin, Laine, P. Kane, Malkin, Marchand, Crosby, Seguin, Kucherov, Perry, Pacioretty, Tavares.

[btimbit]

Love it. Had my fingers crossed for Neal for weeks. A guy that plays with some jam and can put the biscuit in the basket as well.

Term could be a year shorter but im thrilled

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

Darren Haynes
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@DarrenWHaynes
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Notable with James Neal is his goal total isn't propped up by PP goals. Over the last five seasons, his average of 0.29 ES goals/game ranks 15th behind (in order) Matthews, McDavid, Tarasenko, Ovechkin, Laine, P. Kane, Malkin, Marchand, Crosby, Seguin, Kucherov, Perry, Pacioretty, Tavares.

This is especially important given that he's a left shot and might not even be on PP1 with the desire to stack Tkachuk / Monahan / Gaudreau with a righty like Lindholm or Czarnik. Having a guy who can produce even when the coach doesn't put him in position to will help replace Ferland much better than a PP specialist like ROR would have.

[AC]

Treliving speaks:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1013859743251591168

Targeted Neal as a top 6 F that can move up and down. Left shot but plays the RW.

Consistent goal scorer, plays on the PP, and has been to the finals back to back years.

Fills a really big need for them.

Spoke to during the courting process, talked to his agent a lot.

You have to be careful with term, he's going to be 31 but Neal seemed to really focus on getting 5 years (at least). Treliving says because of how much he fits with our roster and needs, it was a no-brainer essentially.

Plan was to look at our forward group and add depth. Lindholm, Ryan, Czarnik, and Neal PLUS young players pushing means they're really addressed some needs. The ability to move players around and have different players play on the speciality teams is key.

We're getting close to completion. You never know what happens, but they have some RFA contracts to get done, and you continue to talk to teams, are there moves to be made on the blueline to add some depth?

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Love it. Had my fingers crossed for Neal for weeks. A guy that plays with some jam and can put the biscuit in the basket as well.

Term could be a year shorter but im thrilled

Agree I have hoped he would be picked up by the Flames since 2013 before he went to NSH. Flames have been desperate for this type of player for quite a while. He fills a lot of holes on the Wing up front.

[btimbit]

With no trade protection I wonder if the plan is to expose him in the next expansion draft (assuming it's 2-3 years away)

[Point Blank]

Originally Posted by btimbit

With no trade protection I wonder if the plan is to expose him in the next expansion draft (assuming it's 2-3 years away)

I guess that would be up to James Neal and how he plays these next few years.

[Stay Golden]

Apparently Mike Smith was key to getting Neal to sign they are close friends. Smith continues to pay off for the Flames

[CanadaMatt]

Go back two years and read the Brouwer thread...it’s exactly the same.

- what we’ve been missing
- term not great
- Add flexibility
- upgrade on existing talent
- are we a contender now?

This time is different though, right?

[bzoo02]

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

Go back two years and read the Brouwer thread...it’s exactly the same.

- what we’ve been missing
- term not great
- Add flexibility
- upgrade on existing talent
- are we a contender now?

This time is different though, right?

You're comparing one of the best pure snipers in today's game to Troy frickin' Brouwer?

Apples to Oranges.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

Go back two years and read the Brouwer thread...it’s exactly the same.

- what we’ve been missing
- term not great
- Add flexibility
- upgrade on existing talent
- are we a contender now?

This time is different though, right?

Brouwer and Neal are completely different players
So yes it is different
Doesn’t mean it will work. But it is a silly parallel you are trying to draw

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

Go back two years and read the Brouwer thread...it’s exactly the same.

- what we’ve been missing
- term not great
- Add flexibility
- upgrade on existing talent
- are we a contender now?

This time is different though, right?

Yes, clearly different.

[Jetfire]

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

Go back two years and read the Brouwer thread...it’s exactly the same.

- what we’ve been missing
- term not great
- Add flexibility
- upgrade on existing talent
- are we a contender now?

This time is different though, right?

The reactions were totally different... Wasn't there even a pretty divided poll gauging how much people liked the Brouwer signing? This Neal poll is overwhelmingly positive.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

Go back two years and read the Brouwer thread...it’s exactly the same.

- what we’ve been missing
- term not great
- Add flexibility
- upgrade on existing talent
- are we a contender now?

This time is different though, right?

lol

Did you just compare Brouwer to Neal?

I mean yeah, sure there was some optimism about Brouwer when he was signed, but Neal has 10 straight seasons of 20+ goals and has scored at a 28 goal pace for the last 4 seasons.

He is miles better than Brouwer.

[Jetfire]

[GoJetsGo]

"Gio, Johnny and Monahan all reached out. They're all good dudes." - James 'The Real Deal' Neal

[dammage79]

I mean I guess the timeline is a bit similar.

In 2016, Flames acquire Vey, Chiasson, Pribyl before they sign the big RW cherry on top in Brouwer.

In 2018, the Flames acquire, Elias Lindholm, Derek Ryan and Austin Czernik before the big RW cherry on top in James Neal.

Perhaps we should compare careers of both sets of players. And which of those RW's are still with the team.

If Brouwer could have managed to pot 30 points in at least one of his first two seasons
he wouldn't be the hangman on the platform. But he didn't.

And lets compare Neal to Brouwer for a second. Brouwers potted 20 goals in a season....3 times.

Neal has potted 20 goals minimun a season....10 times in a row.

catching the drift yet?