Practice notes Nov 24. Neal plays tmrw, Valimaki minor LBI (game time decision), starter unconfirmed.

[Phagoof]

Originally Posted by sempuki

Except he's been given time on the top line and shows no evidence of chemistry -- unlike Lindholm, who looks amazing there.

Agreed what Neal needs is power play time, but the second unit is a big drop off talent wise.

No he hasn't?

At this point you gotta get em going, or trade him to Pittsburg or Vegas. He's a waste on the third line and a waste on the cap.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by sempuki

Except he's been given time on the top line and shows no evidence of chemistry -- unlike Lindholm, who looks amazing there.

Agreed what Neal needs is power play time, but the second unit is a big drop off talent wise.

I can't recall more than a shift or two with the top line. And about a game and a half with Backlund. I understand it's hard to get a spot on those lines. But you can't expect production out of playing him with Derek Ryan and Czarnik.

[GioforPM]

Valimaki took an awkward hit on the end boards last game and limped off the ice. But he finished the game so it wasn't severe.

[David Struch]

A lot of lines still haven't been tried, if the plan is to create more depth by having Backlund move down a line plus get Neal going...

It could be any one of Jankowski, Czarnik, Ryan, or Dubé given a look on the 2nd line.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - ______ - Bennett
Frolík - Backlund - Neal

[ignite09]

Neal needs a playmaker on his line, simple. The biggest problem with the Bennett\Janko\Neal line was they're all finishers. This team needs one more creator to run three dangerous lines.

[Toonage]

Worth noting the best goal Neal scored all year where he really looked like himself came off a pass from Johnny's stick. Maybe its worth splitting the top line up, even for a period.

[Harry Lime]

Neal played on the second line last season with great results. A lot of his value comes from being able to produce at a consistent level with the second tier linemates.

[CsInMyBlood]

James Neal Even Strength Line Combinations
Freq Line Combination
16 BACKLUND,MIKAEL - NEAL,JAMES - TKACHUK,MATTHEW
14.7 BENNETT,SAM - JANKOWSKI,MARK - NEAL,JAMES
10.5 BENNETT,SAM - NEAL,JAMES - RYAN,DEREK
7.1 GAUDREAU,JOHNNY - MONAHAN,SEAN - NEAL,JAMES
6.6 BACKLUND,MIKAEL - BENNETT,SAM - NEAL,JAMES
5.5 DUBE,DILLON - NEAL,JAMES - RYAN,DEREK
5.5 CZARNIK,AUSTIN - NEAL,JAMES - RYAN,DEREK
4.7 BENNETT,SAM - DUBE,DILLON - NEAL,JAMES
4.1 FROLIK,MICHAEL - NEAL,JAMES - RYAN,DEREK
3 CZARNIK,AUSTIN - JANKOWSKI,MARK - NEAL,JAMES

Power Play Line Combinations
Freq Line Combination
25.9 GAUDREAU,JOHNNY - LINDHOLM,ELIAS - MONAHAN,SEAN - NEAL,JAMES
21.5 BACKLUND,MIKAEL - BENNETT,SAM - NEAL,JAMES - RYAN,DEREK
13.3 BACKLUND,MIKAEL - CZARNIK,AUSTIN - NEAL,JAMES - RYAN,DEREK
8.2 BACKLUND,MIKAEL - BENNETT,SAM - CZARNIK,AUSTIN - NEAL,JAMES
7 BACKLUND,MIKAEL - CZARNIK,AUSTIN - DUBE,DILLON - NEAL,JAMES
6.3 BACKLUND,MIKAEL - NEAL,JAMES - RYAN,DEREK
2.5 GAUDREAU,JOHNNY - MONAHAN,SEAN - NEAL,JAMES - TKACHUK,MATTHEW
1.9 GAUDREAU,JOHNNY - NEAL,JAMES - TKACHUK,MATTHEW
1.9 BACKLUND,MIKAEL - LINDHOLM,ELIAS - MONAHAN,SEAN - NEAL,JAMES - TKACHUK,MATTHEW
1.3 BENNETT,SAM - NEAL,JAMES - TKACHUK,MATTHEW

So this shows James Neal has infact had solid looks and ice time on the top two lines.

He sits 6th on the team among forwards for 5 on 5 ice time.

5th on the team in PP ice time.

His 4 points put him as the 11th points producing forward on this team. They have literally tried him everywhere so far.

[Aarongavey]

Neal needs to get going, Brouwer is starting to pull away in their epic head to head battle for who scores more goals this year. Troy has a 6-3 lead right now. He also has a 7-4 lead in points.

Time for the Real Deal to show why BT backed up the Brinks truck for him. Don't want him going to way of the other scorers we have brought in through free agency like Mason Raymond and Troy Brouwer, because this time it will cost a little more to buy our way out again.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by AC

I disagree. Neal's penalty was a joke.





Bennett was blatantly tripped seconds before while carrying the puck.



Neal was upset with the ref and Miller dives as if he's been shot.



You can see Bennett yell at the ref "You better call the dive"



Neal's call in better quality: https://gfycat.com/MiserlyMajorFairyfly

Now that is a post. Nice AC.

[David Struch]

What centre has Neal played with the best during his career? besides the obvious one in Crosby, I assume, the season when Neal scored 40 goals & 41 assists with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by David Struch

What centre has Neal played with the best during his career? besides the obvious one in Crosby, I assume, the season when Neal scored 40 goals & 41 assists with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

If memory serves me correctly, I believe he was actually lined up with Malkin for most of his best years with Pittsburgh.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Not to make excuses but if what Cassie said last night is reasonable - Neal has had back to back SCF runs and is exhausted - perhaps people should be cognizant of that.

I am not sure I get this argument. How can people still be exhausted after at least 3 months of recovery time?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I just don't get this argument.

Do you leave him on the top line when Lindholm has more chemistry? Or do you leave him with Backlund and Tkachuk when they just get pounded as a trio?

14 different combinations this season of 5 or more minutes including his first and third most frequent combinations being the two pairs I mentioned above.

They're trying. They just haven't found the match yet. If he wasn't being tested through out the lineup you'd have a misused argument, but they've tried.

Why did they sign him then? I am nearly positive Treliving had him penciled in for a top 6 role or he wouldn't have offered him that contract. He's been placed in the top 6 but never really long enough to get traction. If the current top 6 is humming along I don't think you disrupt that but when one of those lines slumps it would be nice to see Neal get a shot for 2-3 straight games in a top 6 role to see if they can get him going. It's just not going to work out with him on the 3rd line ever.

[DeluxeMoustache]

^ I think they need to find a spot on the PP for him.

I want to see the top 6 left as is for long enough to get good chemistry. But if Peters is playing 4 F and 1 D on the PP, it is a natural consideration that you use that to get Neal going.

Now this could very well be an idea the coach has, but he does in fact need refs to call penalties on the opposition.

[flamesforcup]

I dont think Bennett is going to be a RW long term and we didn't pay Neal that much money to pay on the 3rd line. Also dont want to split up the top line so i would do what others have suggested: A Tkachuk-Bennett-Neal line.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by AC

I disagree. Neal's penalty was a joke.


Bennett was blatantly tripped seconds before while carrying the puck.

Neal was upset with the ref and Miller dives as if he's been shot.

You can see Bennett yell at the ref "You better call the dive"

Neal's call in better quality: https://gfycat.com/MiserlyMajorFairyfly

I am sorry, I don't care how upset you are or if the other player embellished things, that was a penalty and it was a dumb penalty to take. He should know better.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Oh, I know the reffing was terrible.

I'm saying you cannot give the refs something that easy to call.

Neal was frustrated by things that happened in that shift, starting with getting accidentally butt ended in the face by his buddy Fleury.

Millar after witnessing Neals frustration shift, comes off the bench and makes sure he gets in Neals path. Neal was pissed and took a selfish penalty. Too easy.

Next two minutes are spent killing a penalty when you need a goal. He obviously needs to be smarter there. If you're not getting points make at least make sure you're not being a detriment.

I actually thought it was one of James Neals better games as a Flame but that was dumb.

you really think a guy should be scratched for that? bumping like that happens on almost every line change

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by dino7c

you really think a guy should be scratched for that? bumping like that happens on almost every line change

Exactly. It’s very rare that a guy flips like that.

But if you are pretty sure the refs are not calling penalties on your team...

not even saying the refs cost them because they didn’t score, but... c’mon stripes

[chubeyr1]

Originally Posted by redforever

I am sorry, I don't care how upset you are or if the other player embellished things, that was a penalty and it was a dumb penalty to take. He should know better.

I agree. That was really dumb. Sure the guy went down easy but why even do that?

I need Tkachuk to explain this to me for it to make sense. I know it was Neal, but Tkachuk could probably make sense out of this.