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

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Point Blank

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

Well, yeah, but what I meant was given that it'll be the same expansion format as last time it's real nice to not have to use a protection spot on a non core guy

[ResAlien]

I hope Neal does well here and fully expect more buyouts to be available wth the next lockout so I’m not overly concerned with the term of his deal. I may have missed it in the whirlwind of news, anything regarding a NTC or NMC? Gotta think he may get exposed when Seattle comes calling.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

I hope Neal does well here and fully expect more buyouts to be available wth the next lockout so I’m not overly concerned with the term of his deal. I may have missed it in the whirlwind of news, anything regarding a NTC or NMC? Gotta think he may get exposed when Seattle comes calling.

No trade restrictions included.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

I hope Neal does well here and fully expect more buyouts to be available wth the next lockout so I’m not overly concerned with the term of his deal. I may have missed it in the whirlwind of news, anything regarding a NTC or NMC? Gotta think he may get exposed when Seattle comes calling.

Rene Lavoie tweeted that there is no NMC or NTC on the deal.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't see much of a reason to complain here. Treliving hit it out of the park this off-season.



Yes, Neal is older, he is probably slowing down, but he has a lot to offer. This sets the Flames up with an incredible amount of versatility. Treliving wanted to address the leadership component for this team - I think he has done so.



I don't worry about term with Neal. So, ideally you wanted Neal for 3 years - IDEALLY. So what? In year 4 and 5, he will probably be noticeably slower and less effective, but who knows? Maybe he won't be. Even if he is, his contract is not much higher than Troy Brouwer's when you look at it. I have said it before and I will say it again - I wish Brouwer wasn't on this team, but if the Flames are going to have a terrible contract, that contract isn't so terrible at all. There are MANY worse contracts around the league.


Neal doesn't come with any clauses either - gives the Flames more flexibility if necessary.



If Neal falls flat on his face nearer the end of the term, it won't be so bad. This is 5 years of a very productive player who plays the game rough and has loads of leadership to offer. There is a lot of value from the get-go, and as it declines, it may even end up as a value contract towards the end.



I like it. I like the versatility that it brings the lineup. I can't make up any lines right now, as with Treliving stating that he wants to see Neal with Tkachuk, it makes it anyone's guess as to who the center might be.


Tkachuk - Bennett - Neal - that is the line I want to see. Full of piss and vinegar, and Bennett has the wheels to cover up for mistakes (and I think that Bennett has GREATLY grown his defensive acumen, which is why I would want him tried at center now that the Flames have decent wing options for him).


Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Bennett - Neal
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik
Lazar - Ryan - Czarnik
Brouwer


Or


Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal
Tkachuk - Backlund - Lindholm
Bennett - Jankowski - Czarnik
Frolik - Ryan - Lazar



or


Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal
Jankowski - Backlund - Ryan
Bennett - Lindholm - Tkachuk
Frolik - Lazar - Czarnik


or..



or..


or..


Lots and lots of options.



I don't remember the Flames being this deep since the 07/08 season - maybe even before that. It was a simple thing to jot down a lineup and get agreement from 95% of people. Now?



Know who is really happy today? Bill "The Blender" Peters. He is going to have a field day mixing and matching lines. Who is going to argue with him? There is so many possibilities, especially with all the RHS and LHS, all the different centers, all the different speed and size variables, all the different levels of experience.



This is a pretty damn good team now. There are few if any holes - if there are any holes, they are minor. Prout can play every Edmonton Oilers game and keep those idiots up there in check. Other than that, let's see if Andersson makes that push that forces Treliving's hand.


Defence is going to be so much better with being more active. That is what this defence is good at. They are not a 'shut-down' type of D, and that's ok. They are a D that is best served playing aggressive and causing confusion to the other team. Gulutzan never grasped this in his tenure, and that is why the Flames' goals dropped.


The strength of this organization for the last several seasons has always been in the defence. After this series of moves thus far this off-season, I am not sure I would continue making that claim, and it isn't because I think the defensive corps has gotten worse really. I think the forward corps has improved drastically.


This should be a top 10 team in scoring this upcoming season, especially so given the changes. I thought the Flames - everything being equal other than for the coaching change - would be in the top half somewhere of goal scoring. With these changes and how difficult I think it is going to be for other teams to contain the Flames, I think they are easily in the top 10.


This is going to be one exciting year for the Flames.

[WCW Nitro]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

It's not your opinion that's outrageous, it's your distortion of the facts. To say that Neal has been ‘pretty poor in the playoffs’ is a distortion, as he has been one of the leading goal scorers in the last two playoff runs. To say that two Stanley Cup finalists have ‘let him go’ is a distortion, as Nashville was only able to protect four forwards and Las Vegas offered him a contract on almost the same terms he accepted from Calgary.

As a wise man has said, you're entitled to your own opinion; you are not entitled to your own facts.

Nashville chose to protect Calle Jarnkrok over him, Neal had 6 goals in 22 playoff games for them and 41 regular season points while being a minus player on a very good team. Do you think they would have made the same decision had he been more productive, especially considering how scoring forwards was one thing they did not have much of? LV has a ton of cap space and from what I read did not think he was worth more than 5 million. Yes, he is one the leading goal scorers in the last 2 playoffs, but if you do a goals- per-game analysis, it's a. Different story. Again, I may be wrong about this, but imo he is overrated.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I don't see much of a reason to complain here. Treliving hit it out of the park this off-season.



Yes, Neal is older, he is probably slowing down, but he has a lot to offer. This sets the Flames up with an incredible amount of versatility. Treliving wanted to address the leadership component for this team - I think he has done so.



I don't worry about term with Neal. So, ideally you wanted Neal for 3 years - IDEALLY. So what? In year 4 and 5, he will probably be noticeably slower and less effective, but who knows? Maybe he won't be. Even if he is, his contract is not much higher than Troy Brouwer's when you look at it. I have said it before and I will say it again - I wish Brouwer wasn't on this team, but if the Flames are going to have a terrible contract, that contract isn't so terrible at all. There are MANY worse contracts around the league.


Neal doesn't come with any clauses either - gives the Flames more flexibility if necessary.



If Neal falls flat on his face nearer the end of the term, it won't be so bad. This is 5 years of a very productive player who plays the game rough and has loads of leadership to offer. There is a lot of value from the get-go, and as it declines, it may even end up as a value contract towards the end.



I like it. I like the versatility that it brings the lineup. I can't make up any lines right now, as with Treliving stating that he wants to see Neal with Tkachuk, it makes it anyone's guess as to who the center might be.


Tkachuk - Bennett - Neal - that is the line I want to see. Full of piss and vinegar, and Bennett has the wheels to cover up for mistakes (and I think that Bennett has GREATLY grown his defensive acumen, which is why I would want him tried at center now that the Flames have decent wing options for him).


Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Bennett - Neal
Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik
Lazar - Ryan - Czarnik
Brouwer


Or


Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal
Tkachuk - Backlund - Lindholm
Bennett - Jankowski - Czarnik
Frolik - Ryan - Lazar



or


Gaudreau - Monahan - Neal
Jankowski - Backlund - Ryan
Bennett - Lindholm - Tkachuk
Frolik - Lazar - Czarnik


or..



or..


or..


Lots and lots of options.



I don't remember the Flames being this deep since the 07/08 season - maybe even before that. It was a simple thing to jot down a lineup and get agreement from 95% of people. Now?



Know who is really happy today? Bill "The Blender" Peters. He is going to have a field day mixing and matching lines. Who is going to argue with him? There is so many possibilities, especially with all the RHS and LHS, all the different centers, all the different speed and size variables, all the different levels of experience.



This is a pretty damn good team now. There are few if any holes - if there are any holes, they are minor. Prout can play every Edmonton Oilers game and keep those idiots up there in check. Other than that, let's see if Andersson makes that push that forces Treliving's hand.


Defence is going to be so much better with being more active. That is what this defence is good at. They are not a 'shut-down' type of D, and that's ok. They are a D that is best served playing aggressive and causing confusion to the other team. Gulutzan never grasped this in his tenure, and that is why the Flames' goals dropped.


The strength of this organization for the last several seasons has always been in the defence. After this series of moves thus far this off-season, I am not sure I would continue making that claim, and it isn't because I think the defensive corps has gotten worse really. I think the forward corps has improved drastically.


This should be a top 10 team in scoring this upcoming season, especially so given the changes. I thought the Flames - everything being equal other than for the coaching change - would be in the top half somewhere of goal scoring. With these changes and how difficult I think it is going to be for other teams to contain the Flames, I think they are easily in the top 10.


This is going to be one exciting year for the Flames.

I agree...Neal has been to the dance more than anyone else of the Flames roster. I think his experience will help Johnny and Mony. He'll be 31 when the season starts but he's still producing, and hasn't scored less than 20 goals for more than 10 years.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by WCW Nitro

Nashville chose to protect Calle Jarnkrok over him, Neal had 6 goals in 22 playoff games for them and 41 regular season points while being a minus player on a very good team. Do you think they would have made the same decision had he been more productive, especially considering how scoring forwards was one thing they did not have much of? LV has a ton of cap space and from what I read did not think he was worth more than 5 million. Yes, he is one the leading goal scorers in the last 2 playoffs, but if you do a goals- per-game analysis, it's a. Different story. Again, I may be wrong about this, but imo he is overrated.

I think he's overrated as well, but considering he was a UFA and they didn't have to give up anything but money, he's a welcome addition. Not too high an overpayment as well, so it's something you can live with as long as he's putting up 25+ goals each season.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by WCW Nitro

Nashville chose to protect Calle Jarnkrok over him, Neal had 6 goals in 22 playoff games for them and 41 regular season points while being a minus player on a very good team. Do you think they would have made the same decision had he been more productive, especially considering how scoring forwards was one thing they did not have much of? LV has a ton of cap space and from what I read did not think he was worth more than 5 million. Yes, he is one the leading goal scorers in the last 2 playoffs, but if you do a goals- per-game analysis, it's a. Different story. Again, I may be wrong about this, but imo he is overrated.

So what did you want the Flames to do with their cap room?

There’s a reason guys make it to free agency. Usually because they are older and slightly overrated for what they get paid.

Is Neal going to be the difference between missing playoffs and winning the cup? No. He is a complimentary players that addresses 2 big issues: Pure goal scoring and toughness

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by WCW Nitro

Nashville chose to protect Calle Jarnkrok over him, .

Calle Jarnkrok arguably has the best contract in the NHL for a middle six forward. Had five years at 2M a year while being good for 15goals and 15 assists a year from ages 26 to 30.

James Neal was a year away from being a 30yo UFA.

Regardless of on ice performance, these two facts would make that decision a no-brainer.

[Yoho]

I just want to get back to winning games in the playoffs.

[N-E-B]

Man I am pumped about this! I wanted to trade for Neal a few years ago when Nashville was going to lose him in the expansion draft.

[Deegee]

Neal at this salary is way better than Maroon at 4.5. it's not even close. Great UFA signing.

[WCW Nitro]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Calle Jarnkrok arguably has the best contract in the NHL for a middle six forward. Had five years at 2M a year while being good for 15goals and 15 assists a year from ages 26 to 30.

James Neal was a year away from being a 30yo UFA.

Regardless of on ice performance, these two facts would make that decision a no-brainer.

Nashville was going for the Cup, no doubt in my mind that had Neal been more productive for them in his final year there, they would have protected him.

[Husky]

Neal should be on the top line. He instantly becomes the flames best sniping winger with a proven track record.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Check these out on Mike Smith's friendship with Neal


Check out @AAVickers’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/AAVickers/status...180446721?s=01

Interesting to see some players cultivating friendships off the ice, leading to UFA signings like this.

Then you have other players who hang out by themselves at museums and such...

<< ducks >>

[sureLoss]

if you need further confirmation than lavoie:

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
James Neal’s contract with Calgary does not include a no-move or no-trade clause. #Flames

[Heavy Jack]

That's pretty incredible; Provides us flexibility when a guy like Taylor Hall hits the UFA market for the first time maybe looking to play for his childhood team

[JurassicTunga12]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

That's pretty incredible; Provides us flexibility when a guy like Taylor Hall hits the UFA market for the first time maybe looking to play for his childhood team

Grew up a Flames fan, and what better way to stick it to the rival team that traded you for a #4 defenseman.

[sureLoss]

Torie Peterson @ToriePeterson
A little note for #Flames fans re minor penalties drawn in the 2017-18 regular season:

1st: Matthew Tkachuk (42)
Tied for 4th: Johnny Gaudreau (36)
Tied for 10th: James Neal (29)

Quite the trio for putting their team on the power play ��