One year later: how do you feel about the Lucic/Neal swap?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by MrMike

If Lucic is convinced to waive his NMC, what would you be willing to part with to convince Seattle to take his contract?

I think he will waive it for the expansion draft. The chances he gets picked are minuscule. But if did get picked, he would go where he probably has a better chance of getting more ice time.

[TheScorpion]

^ And if he doesn't waive, he's probably getting bought out. I'm sure he doesn't want that.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

^ And if he doesn't waive, he's probably getting bought out. I'm sure he doesn't want that.

Not saying he would want it but he'd get most of his money anyway and would be a free agent.

[TheScorpion]

I'm not gonna speak for Lucic but generally speaking, guys in the NHL love their security and stability. Getting bought out is the definition of destabilizing.

[Huntingwhale]

From a contract perspective I hated the trade then, still hate it now.

Just sucks that this was one of the worst contracts in the league, we all mocked it for years, our rivals were stuck with it and now it's magically transferred over to us. Some days it still feels like a cruel joke.

From a roster perspective I like Lucic better. But that still doesn't take away the pain; make no mistake this contract blows chunks.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I think he will waive it for the expansion draft. The chances he gets picked are minuscule. But if did get picked, he would go where he probably has a better chance of getting more ice time.

I was meaning what would we be willing to give to sweeten the idea of taking Lucic for us? Adding next years first round pick if it’s in the 20+ Range? Willing to add more draft picks? Prospects?

[sec304]

I hated it then and I still hate it now. The Neal signing turned out to be bad but trying to make up for it by trading for one of the worst money contracts in the sport sure wasn't the answer. To be fair Lucic was better than I thought he'd be, and he's a better fit on the Flames than whiny Neal was but damn...

[SeanCharles]

Neal not producing offence makes him useless.

Lucic not producing offence is tolerable cause he hits, is trying his hardest every shift and is an intimidating man who gives the team a certain level of confidence.

I don’t know how anyone can hate the trade until they know for a fact we have to protect him in expansion.

Cause unless that is the case he is a much more valuable piece than Neal was ever going to be.

[Sandman]

I've said it before-I like having him on the team, for his presence and leadership, and if you were to ask any of the players on the team off the record, I'm sure they would say the same.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Neal not producing offence makes him useless.

Lucic not producing offence is tolerable cause he hits, is trying his hardest every shift and is an intimidating man who gives the team a certain level of confidence.

I don’t know how anyone can hate the trade until they know for a fact we have to protect him in expansion.

Cause unless that is the case he is a much more valuable piece than Neal was ever going to be.

Brad said just today that Lucic will not effect their plans in the expansion draft...It looks like the Flames will lose a dman anyway

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Could you imagine 8 years of Neal’s money counting against the cap? I’m with the owners on this one.

Having to look at his stupid name on CapFriendly.... for 8 years.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I've said it before-I like having him on the team, for his presence and leadership, and if you were to ask any of the players on the team off the record, I'm sure they would say the same.

Has his leadership or presence amounted to any on ice results? The team had a 107 point season with Neal on the roster and regressed to a 94 point pace with the near identical roster outside of the Neal/Lucic swap. Meanwhile the Oilers got a lot better with a near identical roster outside of the Neal/Lucic swap. It can't be denied when Neal goes to a team they immediately improve. It's impossible to say if it's a fluke or anomaly but it's hard to ignore the trend. I get that the Peters issue played a role but I have seen zero evidence that Lucic's presence moves the needle as when you analyze the only thing that matters at the end of the day in points and standings the Oilers got better without him and the Flames got worse with him.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Has his leadership or presence amounted to any on ice results? The team had a 107 point season with Neal on the roster and regressed to a 94 point pace with the near identical roster outside of the Neal/Lucic swap. Meanwhile the Oilers got a lot better with a near identical roster outside of the Neal/Lucic swap. It can't be denied when Neal goes to a team they immediately improve. It's impossible to say if it's a fluke or anomaly but it's hard to ignore the trend. I get that the Peters issue played a role but I have seen zero evidence that Lucic's presence moves the needle as when you analyze the only thing that matters at the end of the day in points and standings the Oilers got better without him and the Flames got worse with him.

I don't have a spreadsheet to back it up, and I didn't see enough Predator or Knights games four and three years ago ...

But the James Neal I've watched in the last two years has nothing to do with a bump in team success. In fact he's a drag the other way that was made up for.

[robertsfanatic]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Has his leadership or presence amounted to any on ice results? The team had a 107 point season with Neal on the roster and regressed to a 94 point pace with the near identical roster outside of the Neal/Lucic swap. Meanwhile the Oilers got a lot better with a near identical roster outside of the Neal/Lucic swap. It can't be denied when Neal goes to a team they immediately improve. It's impossible to say if it's a fluke or anomaly but it's hard to ignore the trend. I get that the Peters issue played a role but I have seen zero evidence that Lucic's presence moves the needle as when you analyze the only thing that matters at the end of the day in points and standings the Oilers got better without him and the Flames got worse with him.

why is it Neal then and not Mike Smith? maybe the drop in points is all because of losing Smith....or is it because our top players had career years last year and this year did not?

[Robbob]

I still like the trade today considering the situation. Without the trade Neal still doesn't crack the top 9 and would be useless in a 4th line role. Probably would be spending a lot of time in the press box. He would not be getting PP1 time (where a good chunk of his points came from in Edmonton) as I sure the hell would not play him over Lindholm and Tkacuk.

At the end of the day Lucic last year contributed way more than Neal in his year as a Flame.

[Looch City]

I like it much better now just by the fact that all Flames players seem to hate Neal and his attitude.

#### Neal. Lucic forever!

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Meanwhile the Oilers got a lot better with a near identical roster outside of the Neal/Lucic swap.

Upgrading their GM and coach probably had way more to do with their improvement than adding Neal.

[Fuzz]

Did Neal do any better than Chaison as a backboard for McDavid? If not, I don't see how he made the Oilers better.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Has his leadership or presence amounted to any on ice results? The team had a 107 point season with Neal on the roster and regressed to a 94 point pace with the near identical roster outside of the Neal/Lucic swap. Meanwhile the Oilers got a lot better with a near identical roster outside of the Neal/Lucic swap. It can't be denied when Neal goes to a team they immediately improve. It's impossible to say if it's a fluke or anomaly but it's hard to ignore the trend. I get that the Peters issue played a role but I have seen zero evidence that Lucic's presence moves the needle as when you analyze the only thing that matters at the end of the day in points and standings the Oilers got better without him and the Flames got worse with him.

Hahaha. You're saying James Neal made the Flames better? He was pathetic as a Calgary Flame. Did you actually watch him play?

How about the fact that Neal scored 19 goals for the Oilers this year, yet lead them with a -20? That's impressive indeed.

[blankall]

I was against the Neal signing when he came in. He had a brief period for about 2 months in Calgary in the new year where he was producing about .5 ppg, but then became totally uninterested again around playoff time. As far as his play in Edmonton, he was producing...but only when he was getting time with the top 2 offensive players in the NHL, McDavid and Draisaitl. There's a long list of totally useless players who've contributed in the same position, and it's a massive opportunity cost to have Neal in that position.

I actually love what Lucic brings, and would love him on the team at 2.5 million or less.

If Lucic doesn't waive, this does become a massive loss for the Flames. I can't imagine the organization would negotiate this without touching on this first. I can't see why Lucic, who's family is in Vancouver, would not want to go to Seattle.