Gilbertson: Neal proud of team success, knows he has more to offer - Page 4 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

CanadaMatt · 02-01-2019, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattman

James Neal is our Marian Hossa.

He's a leader for this young team and that will be extremely valuable come playoff time with some of these guys still being quite inexperienced in the post-season.

Think about it like this, Neal is the "depth player" we would be trying to trade for at the deadline, but we got him at the start of the season and he has already formed relationships and knows the system this team plays.

I’m sorry what???

You’re saying that it’s like the flames acquiring a depth player at the deadline that they need to pay another 23 million dollars for after this season. I’m not sure you’ve thought that analogy through...who acquires depth at the deadline with four years of term and a massive cap hit remaining?

GranteedEV · 02-01-2019, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattman

James Neal is our Marian Hossa.

Uh...

Hossa was a Selke caliber winger who arguably drove the play more than Jonathan Toews did, while throwing up 1st line stats as a Blackhawk.

Neal and Hossa being old does not make then comparable.

Lindholm is a lot closer to our Hossa if anything.

Bingo · 02-01-2019, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

Is 20 goals enough for such an expensive player who contributes nothing else on the ice (pk, fights, face-offs, speed, defense)

I’m not sure your shooting percentage argument is rock solid though. For that to be the case, you have to assume the shots are of similar quality and not forced shots from bad angles or poor positions that are being made due to the pressure that the player is feeling from not scoring.

They certainly signed him for goal scoring and experience ...

he's not a play driver, he doesn't kill penalties, fight ... so yeah I think that's the expectation. Score 90 goals in five season.

The Boy Wonder · 02-01-2019, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Uh...

Hossa was a Selke caliber winger who arguably drove the play more than Jonathan Toews did, while throwing up 1st line stats as a Blackhawk.

Neal and Hossa being old does not make then comparable.

Lindholm is a lot closer to our Hossa if anything.

But maybe in a year or so Neal can be like Hossa and become allergic to his equipment so we can put that awful contract on LTIR

LWcrowfoot · 02-01-2019, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Uh...

Hossa was a Selke caliber winger who arguably drove the play more than Jonathan Toews did, while throwing up 1st line stats as a Blackhawk.

Neal and Hossa being old does not make then comparable.

Lindholm is a lot closer to our Hossa if anything.

uh...

You're not understanding the analogy.

CroFlames · 02-01-2019, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Uh...

Hossa was a Selke caliber winger who arguably drove the play more than Jonathan Toews did, while throwing up 1st line stats as a Blackhawk.

Neal and Hossa being old does not make then comparable.

Lindholm is a lot closer to our Hossa if anything.

Neal is our Lanny? Veteran leadership, but the heavy offensive lifting is done by superstars around him.

Robbob · 02-01-2019, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadaMatt

Is 20 goals enough for such an expensive player who contributes nothing else on the ice (pk, fights, face-offs, speed, defense)

I’m not sure your shooting percentage argument is rock solid though. For that to be the case, you have to assume the shots are of similar quality and not forced shots from bad angles or poor positions that are being made due to the pressure that the player is feeling from not scoring.

It is when the scoring is in the spring. Will anyone care about his regular season stats this year if goes .55 ppg like he did last year in the playoffs?

Zoller · 02-01-2019, 02:55 PM

I think James Neal will be better in the playoffs.

The game tends to slow down as the physical play picks up. He might finally be able to keep up to the rest of the team.

CanadaMatt · 02-01-2019, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bingo

They certainly signed him for goal scoring and experience ...

he's not a play driver, he doesn't kill penalties, fight ... so yeah I think that's the expectation. Score 90 goals in five season.

An average of 18 goals/year with no other contribution does not equate to a 5.75 million pay check (imho). If Neal was on 3.5 million, I could probably live with that to be honest. I think the expectations must have been greater than that.

topfiverecords · 02-01-2019, 04:25 PM

Neal is our Neal

dino7c · 02-01-2019, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yoho

I think you’re all delusional. We are in trouble big time with this contract over the next 5 years.

“I could care less if he ever scores a point again”

Sorry not good enough.

If the Flames win a Stanley Cup I don't give a flying ####

Itse · 02-03-2019, 08:45 AM

Nm, beaten to it.

Toonage · 02-03-2019, 08:48 AM

I thought the Hossa/Neal comparison was that Hossa went to 2 cup finals and lost before winning his 3rd attempt and Neal has gone and lost in 2 finals as well meaning he wins his 3rd try here

bubbsy · 02-03-2019, 11:05 AM

I'm getting sick of neal wasting open net opportunities. Man up and bury these already!

GranteedEV · 02-03-2019, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toonage

I thought the Hossa/Neal comparison was that Hossa went to 2 cup finals and lost before winning his 3rd attempt and Neal has gone and lost in 2 finals as well meaning he wins his 3rd try here

That's a superficial comparision at best though. It would be a cute eyeroll worthy talking piece like "Sam Bennett's moustache makes him our Lanny McDonald" I suppose. But even if it came true AND Neal bounces back to last year's level, it wouldn't be comparable to Hossa whose acquisition and team friendly deal arguably opened and defined Chicago's cup window.

If Neal won the cup it would be as an overpaid passenger. When Hossa won the cup (3x) he was an under-paid (in terms of salary AAV) star. You'd be hard-pressed to find a year where Hossa wasn't one of the three best forwards on that stacked team. You could argue Neal has thus far been one of the three worst forwards on our team with the upside being that he becomes the 6th or 7th best forward.

If we ground ourselves in reality, we hope

Neal is our 2014 Brown
Neal is our 2015 Bickell
Neal is our 2017 Kunitz

And as ugly as that sounds, the important thing is those teams still won.

Toonage · 02-03-2019, 11:34 AM

Classic_Sniper · 02-04-2019, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbsy

I'm getting sick of neal wasting open net opportunities. Man up and bury these already!

This. I think everyone has been pretty critical of Neal's linemates not finding him open. But it's a 2 way street. If Neal gets his grade A chances and doesn't bury them, then he should be subject to criticism. I think it's safe to say if Neal could bury the chances that he's being paid handsomely to finish, then both Bennett and Jankowski would have more points.

Getting chances is one thing, but he's being paid a premium to finish those chances at a higher rate than your average NHLer. If he can't accomplish this one task, then Mangiapane at league minimum would be a better choice for both the 3rd line and team's cap. The biggest concern for him should be that he hasn't scored a goal off the blade of his stick in over 3 months. He could honestly have played with a ringette stick and have the same number of goals since November.

Flash Walken · 02-04-2019, 08:55 AM

Raise your hand if you had garnet Hathaway outscoring James Neal 50 games into the season.

Split98 · 02-04-2019, 09:00 AM

Despite the low production, I've been noticing him out there a lot more lately.

For one, he doesn't get hit. He's a big guy out there that can help control the play when his hands are working (confidence) and is around the net creating opportunities. He's had quite a few go off his stick he'd want back, and it seems like a guy gripping his stick too tight more than a guy that isn't going to produce.

Soon as he finds his groove, I can't wait to see what a confident Neal does with Bennett and Jankowski.

EldrickOnIce · 02-04-2019, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Raise your hand if you had garnet Hathaway outscoring James Neal 50 games into the season.

None of it matters much when you are winning.
I cannot imagine how this would play out here were the Flames scrambling for a spot right night.
As it stands, Neal can still find his touch and contribute in more meaningful (counting) ways.
The sky is not falling because Neal can't score a goal. The sky is not falling because Smith can't stop a puck. As long as the team keeps winning