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

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

The Flames have a 5.75 million per year insurance player. Brilliant strategy. And what if Johnny goes down?...we can’t slide Neal into that spot ...he’s way to slow for that top line.

If we can’t extend Chucky next year due to Neal’s salary cap hit then I’ll be pissed.

Fair enough. But how about we wait and see first? If they can't sign Chucky, then by all means, bring on the wrath for this contract.

If however, they do sign Chucky, can we all stop complaining about it for a while?

[CanadaMatt]

Duplicate

[CanadaMatt]

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

The Flames have a 5.75 million per year insurance player. Brilliant strategy. And what if Johnny goes down?...we can’t slide Neal into that spot ...he’s way to slow for that top line.

If we can’t extend Chucky next year due to Neal’s salary cap hit then I’ll be pissed.

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Fair enough. But how about we wait and see first? If they can't sign Chucky, then by all means, bring on the wrath for this contract.

If however, they do sign Chucky, can we all stop complaining about it for a while?

This is the exact same thing with Trou Brouwer.

Step 1. Hooray a Signing - So excited omg just what we need
Step 2. I’m not going to admit I’m concerned - Give him time, he’ll come good
Step 3. Nothing to see here - Can’t we just focus on the positives
Step 4. Acceptance - Buy him out already

So far most folks I see are on Step 2 of the Troy Brouwer free agency signing playbook

[Igottago]

I think its more than fair to wonder what exactly is going on with Neal at this point. Yes, the team is playing extremely well and its great. It doesn't mean you can't assess the play of individual players where it isn't going as expected.

The big money free agent signing struggling to do what he's known for. We've seen a lot of games where the Flames have had high offensive output without his name on the score sheet. Its great to have depth but part of that depth is knowing that the player can be put on the ice and contribute to his potential, not just be another body.

Anyone would have to admit he's been performing way below expectations. Even on the third line you'd have thought he'd have banged in a few more by now. He's not going to get Lindholm's spot on the top line, that's for sure. If he can actually get going where he is, the team is just that much better.

[chummer]

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

The Flames have a 5.75 million per year insurance player. Brilliant strategy. And what if Johnny goes down?...we can’t slide Neal into that spot ...he’s way to slow for that top line.

If we can’t extend Chucky next year due to Neal’s salary cap hit then I’ll be pissed.

Like that's going to happen.

C'mon man.

[CanadaMatt]

Originally Posted by chummer

Like that's going to happen.

C'mon man.

The Flames are a cap team, based on Nylander’s nonsensical contract , Chucky can expect to earn more than anyone else on the team. 8mm a year is not unrealistic. That’s a 6 million rise from this year, with the cap going up by 3-4mm.

How can you say that’s not at least a risk of happening?

And yet we have a 5.75 million player, often playing against bottom D pairings and not scoring.

[dirk diggler]

Treliving needs to have his phone disabled on July 1 from now on.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

The Flames are a cap team, based on Nylander’s nonsensical contract , Chucky can expect to earn more than anyone else on the team. 8mm a year is not unrealistic. That’s a 6 million rise from this year, with the cap going up by 3-4mm.

How can you say that’s not at least a risk of happening?

And yet we have a 5.75 million player, often playing against bottom D pairings and not scoring.

[CanadaMatt]

Originally Posted by the2bears

Great point, well made

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

Great point, well made

Thanks. It's spot on.

[GullFoss]

I think people here are forgetting to live in the moment. The decision for this year is Neal vs Dube. That's who'd be up if we didn't have Neal. The $5.75m is a sunk cost. And Neal is better than nothing. Or Dube.

Let the 2019-20 flames fan deal fret over James Neal.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

I think people here are forgetting to live in the moment. The decision for this year is Neal vs Dube. That's who'd be up if we didn't have Neal. The $5.75m is a sunk cost. And Neal is better than nothing. Or Dube.

Let the 2019-20 flames fan deal fret over James Neal.

No, no no. We must fret about the 2022/23 team, and the fact that Neal is going to be on it. Horrors!

[Strange Brew]

I have wondered how Brouwer would look on this year’s team, playing 3rd/4th line. He’d only have one year left after this.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

No, no no. We must fret about the 2022/23 team, and the fact that Neal is going to be on it. Horrors!

Just imagine if the team were 9-17-1. I'd have to take a long break from CP.

[CanadaMatt]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

No, no no. We must fret about the 2022/23 team, and the fact that Neal is going to be on it. Horrors!

When you don’t read the thread, you end up making a fool of yourself like you just did. 2023, wtf are you even talking about?

The concern is immediate. The concern is the ability to sign chucky next year. The concern is not having enough cap space to be opportunistic at the deadline and make a run for it. This concern arises because a 5.75mm 3rd liner who plays against the other teams bottom defensive pair and can’t freaking contribute on the scoreboard is taking up valuable cap space.

Troy Brouwer Version II
Or
David Jones Version III

However you’d prefer to look at it

[bax]

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

When you don’t read the thread, you end up making a fool of yourself like you just did. 2023, wtf are you even talking about?



The concern is immediate. The concern is the ability to sign chucky next year. The concern is not having enough cap space to be opportunistic at the deadline and make a run for it. This concern arises because a 5.75mm 3rd liner who plays against the other teams bottom defensive pair and can’t freaking contribute on the scoreboard is taking up valuable cap space.



Troy Brouwer Version II

Or

David Jones Version III



However you’d prefer to look at it

Do you honestly believe the Flames are going to lose Tkachuk this off-season? Because they signed James Neal?

Frolik and Stone can be moved for picks quite easily. That is 7.8 million in cap space right there. Factor in that Tkachuk already costs about 2.5 and the cap going up and the Flames are in fine shape.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by the2bears

If you goal was to make me buy KFC, you succeeded.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I have wondered how Brouwer would look on this year’s team, playing 3rd/4th line. He’d only have one year left after this.

Brouwer is better than Neal and looks like he will outscore Neal as well. For the next 4 years we are paying 7.25 million dollars for Neal to play on the Flames and for Brouwer not to play on the Flames.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

When you don’t read the thread, you end up making a fool of yourself like you just did. 2023, wtf are you even talking about?

The concern is immediate. The concern is the ability to sign chucky next year. The concern is not having enough cap space to be opportunistic at the deadline and make a run for it. This concern arises because a 5.75mm 3rd liner who plays against the other teams bottom defensive pair and can’t freaking contribute on the scoreboard is taking up valuable cap space.

Troy Brouwer Version II
Or
David Jones Version III

However you’d prefer to look at it

No, the concern is not immediate. And it is not I that is embarrassing themselves. You're having a hairy conniption because Neal hasn't clicked yet. Remember when Hamilton joined the Flames and really struggled for 20 games? Then he settled in and the people that were freaking out looked like fools.

Remember when Hamonic joined the team last year and struggled to find his game with the Flames? Some people freaked out about that too.

Now you're freaking out about a guy who, while he hasn't got his scoring groove on yet, has been playing pretty well and contributing in other ways.

His presence is not going to deter the Flames from re-signing Tkachuk. SO chill your #### and give it a rest.

[Enoch Root]

nm