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

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I'm not going to say that I called Lindholm being a PPG 'best contract in the league' type player, but it was clear as soon as the trade happened that Lindholm was the most talented player to ever play with Gaudreau and Monahan. And those two don't need you to be Peter Forsberg to ruin teams.

Lindholm > Hudler, and we saw what Hudler did when those two weren't nearly as good as they are now.

Lindholm being awesome is probably the most predictable move of the off-season.

It’s the craziness of the league. James Neal comes in with 10 straight 20 goal seasons, hasn’t scored in almost 2 months and is currently on pace for 7 goals. Lindholm comes in via trade and has never scored more than 17 in a season, hits that mark 37 games in and is on pace for 38. I think most people would have assumed the opposite would happen.

You have to really lean on your scouts when it comes to trades and signings in this league. Chemistry and fit are 2 things that are difficult to predict. Hopefully this is a learning tool for the organization going forward.

[868904]

Neal was good against the Blues.

Shot the puck lots, he needs to keep doing that, get at least 5 shots a game.

If he don’t shoot, he won’t score. Keep shooting.

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

It’s the craziness of the league. James Neal comes in with 10 straight 20 goal seasons, hasn’t scored in almost 2 months and is currently on pace for 7 goals. Lindholm comes in via trade and has never scored more than 17 in a season, hits that mark 37 games in and is on pace for 38. I think most people would have assumed the opposite would happen.

You have to really lean on your scouts when it comes to trades and signings in this league. Chemistry and fit are 2 things that are difficult to predict. Hopefully this is a learning tool for the organization going forward.

Chemistry and fit are part of the problem, but there has to be more going on with Neal considering how sharply his numbers have dropped off. His points pace this year is almost a 70% drop from last year's point's pace. He has regressed.

[TheOnlyBilko]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

It’s the craziness of the league. James Neal comes in with 10 straight 20 goal seasons, hasn’t scored in almost 2 months and is currently on pace for 7 goals. Lindholm comes in via trade and has never scored more than 17 in a season, hits that mark 37 games in and is on pace for 38. I think most people would have assumed the opposite would happen.
.

I think most would have to assume that Lindholm would have a good season after he was named to be on the top line and the #1 power play unit. Lindholm has always been highly talented, he was a top prospect for his draft year and was drafted higher then Monohan actually.

[Brick]

Put James Neal on the 1st line and he'll start producing. He needs a playmaker and Johnny's the only one they have.

Johnny and Monny can both play a 200 foot game if they set their minds to it.

Lindholm and Tkachuk would probably play well together.

That way there would be at least 2 lines scoring and the team would be harder to shut down.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Chemistry and fit are part of the problem, but there has to be more going on with Neal considering how sharply his numbers have dropped off. His points pace this year is almost a 70% drop from last year's point's pace. He has regressed.

It doesn't mean there's more going on.


Lucic had 50 points his first season in Edmonton, dropped to 10 goals, last season, and now has something like 2 goals in his last 82 games


Loui Eriksson had 30 goals and 63 points his last year in Boston. The next year in Vancouver, just 11 goals and 24 points in 65 games.


Obviously Neal's drop is more precipitous, but sometimes players just lose it suddenly.

[CanadaMatt]

Originally Posted by Brick

Put James Neal on the 1st line and he'll start producing. He needs a playmaker and Johnny's the only one they have.

Johnny and Monny can both play a 200 foot game if they set their minds to it.

Lindholm and Tkachuk would probably play well together.

That way there would be at least 2 lines scoring and the team would be harder to shut down.

So, break up the 2nd most effective line in all of the NHL just at the ‘off chance’ that Janes Neal will start scoring?

You are ignoring:
1. the fact that Neal often takes Lindholms spot in that top line after a PK and has produced sweet **** all playing with 13 and 23
2. Neal is currently playing against bottom pairing defenders and can’t score, put him against top pairing defences and he’ll likely struggle more (if that’s even possible)

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Brick

Put James Neal on the 1st line and he'll start producing. He needs a playmaker and Johnny's the only one they have...

Matthew Tkachuk is an exceptional playmaker. Lindholm is also very good. We are well past the days of this team’s offence cycling exclusively through Johnny Gaudreau.




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[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Matthew Tkachuk is an exceptional playmaker. Lind Holme is also very good. We are well past the days of this team’s offence cycling exclusively through Johnny Gaudreau.




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Lind Holme is good at the hockeys

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by 868904

Neal was good against the Blues.

Shot the puck lots, he needs to keep doing that, get at least 5 shots a game.

If he don’t shoot, he won’t score. Keep shooting.

Neal was quite good against the Blues. It was a night and day difference from the earlier games to that last game - in terms of his 'energy' and just the quality of his passes (accurate and hard). I see him really coming on and being a significant contributor in the second half. Too good of a player.

There are a handful of guys that, if they can finally start heating up, would put CGY undoubtedly in the elite class of the league. They're probably there now but to fully realize four lines that are a threat to score would be amazing.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Matthew Tkachuk is an exceptional playmaker. Lindholm is also very good. We are well past the days of this team’s offence cycling exclusively through Johnny Gaudreau.




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Yeah if you have to break up the top line, i'd rather move Bennett into first RW spot than Neal. Bennett can at least do the dirty work in the defensive end and the cycling in the offensive zone, which is the main thing that Lindholm brings to that line. Neal doesn't do the dirty work, he is a pure shooter plain and simple. He can't win board battles and can't cycle. He is an opportunist with a good shot and he just needs to keep things simple and shoot the puck all the time.

You can move Lindholm to centre the second line with Tkachuk and Neal on the right. Tkachuk is decent defensively and he and Lindholm should cover most of Neal's shortcomings in possession play. Tkachuk can also set up both Lindholm and Neal who are shooters.

This also allows Backlund to go back with Frolik which is who he has the best chemistry and throw Ryan on their right side, and you have a line that can be a possession monster with faceoff advantages and defensive awareness. I think this would be a great shutdown line too.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by 868904

Yeah if you have to break up the top line, i'd rather move Bennett into first RW spot than Neal. Bennett can at least do the dirty work in the defensive end and the cycling in the offensive zone, which is the main thing that Lindholm brings to that line. Neal doesn't do the dirty work, he is a pure shooter plain and simple. He can't win board battles and can't cycle. He is an opportunist with a good shot and he just needs to keep things simple and shoot the puck all the time.

You can move Lindholm to centre the second line with Tkachuk and Neal on the right. Tkachuk is decent defensively and he and Lindholm should cover most of Neal's shortcomings in possession play. Tkachuk can also set up both Lindholm and Neal who are shooters.

This also allows Backlund to go back with Frolik which is who he has the best chemistry and throw Ryan on their right side, and you have a line that can be a possession monster with faceoff advantages and defensive awareness. I think this would be a great shutdown line too.

I generally like this idea, but a big part of why the top line has been so good this year, is because Lindholm winning right side face offs. The more that line starts with the puck the better they are. If Lindholm comes off that line, I could see Ryan replacing him, to keep the right handed face off (and shot) available. I'm likely in the very small minority that would like to see this happen. That would give top 3 lines of:

Johnny - Monahan - Ryan
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Neal
Bennett - Backlund - Frolik

Fourth line would be Jankowski at centre and a rotation of the other players on the wings depending on who Peters wants for each situation.

[Yoho]

I see Neal a a huge defensive liability playing sustained minutes on the second line. If you think he looks disinterested in the offensive zone, watch him in the defensive end.

[TheScorpion]

I just bought a James Neal jersey which means he's scoring 6 against Winnipeg.

[Phagoof]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

I generally like this idea, but a big part of why the top line has been so good this year, is because Lindholm winning right side face offs. The more that line starts with the puck the better they are. If Lindholm comes off that line, I could see Ryan replacing him, to keep the right handed face off (and shot) available. I'm likely in the very small minority that would like to see this happen. That would give top 3 lines of:

Johnny - Monahan - Ryan
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Neal
Bennett - Backlund - Frolik

Fourth line would be Jankowski at centre and a rotation of the other players on the wings depending on who Peters wants for each situation.

[TheScorpion]

Would you rather see Neal? Because Ryan is significantly better

[Stay Golden]

Flames 1 win in 4 last games since Neal moved up to 2nd line. Neal should be benched but instead he gets promoted to the second line. 2nd line PP with Neal on it has been out of sorts too. Not Peter's fault he is trying everything to light a fire under this guys ass. Peters is stuck with this joker and doing his best to get some kind of production out of him.
A veteran like Neal should be able to motivate himself. From what I have seen in person several times. Guy is LAZY, Jagr at 45 years old last year has about the same pace as a 31 year old Neal.
What I find most discouraging is Neal's lack of physical play especially for a guy that has made a decent career playing that way.
Instead He is a powder puff out there.
Neal Is way out front for being the biggest disappointment on the Flames roster especially that we have 4 more years of his lazy nonsense.

[Phagoof]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Would you rather see Neal? Because Ryan is significantly better

No, I'd rather see Bennett

[Stanley]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I just bought a James Neal jersey which means he's scoring 6 against Winnipeg.

Man I hope you got a wicked boxing day sale on that one

[Huntingwhale]

I would love to see a collection of Scorp's jerseys. Jones, Neal lol. I know there's other odd ones you've mentioned.

Would be a very unique collection!