[Rumour] TSN: Flames will inquire about re-acquiring Ferland

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Stanley

Neal for Ferland, otherwise pass

Ferland is worth a 1st round pick +.

Neal has negative value.

Just say pass.

[sa226]

Love Ferland. That physicality combined with ability is something very few teams have these days.

I think if he is moved, the team is taking on an element of risk depending on aquisition cost, especially for a rental. He hasn't been the healthiest guy the past few years. Concussion issues, back problems. Awesome guy and you hope for the best, but I do wonder about his ability to stay healthy.

[GreenLantern2814]

Neal has been good the last couple weeks. Maybe it just took a UFA on his 3rd team in three years a little while to get comfy.

[Royle9]

Great story, I loved Ferland and can appreciate what he brought to the team the last few years.

Unfortunately, that ship has sailed in my mind unless he's willing to play bottom 6 minutes at a lowish salary which isn't the case and rightfully so. He's going to get paid north of 5 mil I would assume by someone making a big push for the playoffs here, risky in my mind as he's been pretty "mr.glass" esq these last few months.

Between the concussions and "upper body" injuries, I think we've seen the most effective playoff series version of Ferland first hand back in 2015.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Neal has been good the last couple weeks. Maybe it just took a UFA on his 3rd team in three years a little while to get comfy.

Still, no one is giving any value for the pleasure of that contract right now.

Good players don't need to get comfy LOL.


And certainly not the value of the 1st + that Ferland will command.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Still, no one is giving any value for the pleasure of that contract right now.

Good players don't need to get comfy LOL.


And certainly not the value of the 1st + that Ferland will command.

I agree with everything in your post, except for the bolded part, that is simply not true. I'm very disappointing in what we have in Neal right now, and there is just as much chance he Browers as there is he becomes what we hoped, but lots of examples of players needing time. Hamonic is a perfect example, he's exactly what we hoped we were getting when we traded for him this year, last year, not at all.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Neal has been good the last couple weeks. Maybe it just took a UFA on his 3rd team in three years a little while to get comfy.

I am optimistic he will start heating up after the break peaking during the playoffs.

[Beninho]

I have a feeling Neal is a big part of the dressing room, trading him could affect that chemistry. Not worth the trade off of disrupting the dressing room dynamic.

[edn88]

Even with Neal not performing to the level he has in the past, the team is doing well. Neal seems to be trending in the right direction. There is no way trading Neal doesn’t end up with the Flames getting hosed. Imagine if Neal hits his stride going into the playoffs.

[oldschoolcalgary]

the optimist in my says that Calgary is securely 2nd in the west... without any help from Neal...

if Neal can begin to regain his form - something that he seems to have done the last few game - it will be essentially trading for another bottom 6 player for nothing.

i do think another goalie as an insurance policy would be wise... Gillies as the backup in case of an injury to Smith or Rittich does not make me feel very confident at all.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Ferland is worth a 1st round pick +.

I think that's a stretch personally. I mean maybe a conditional 1st but I'm having trouble thinking of a winger on an expiring contract that straight up fetched a 1st+. Andrew Ladd I guess but he had a much longer track record in both the regular season and playoffs.

[The Boy Wonder]

I don't want ferland back.

He's not effective when he plays bottom 6 and with the way this team is playing he shouldn't slot into the top 6 so I just don't see a fit.

He's been injured a ton this season and I think it sends the wrong message to all the RWs or guys playing RW if you bring him in.

Also you are looking at basically 50/50 chance he shows up and is awesome ferland or if he just floats and does nothing.

We are a long time removed from 2015 playoffs.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Neal has been good the last couple weeks. Maybe it just took a UFA on his 3rd team in three years a little while to get comfy.

I think the Xmas break played a part and hopefully the next couple breaks will as well. Dude has played a hell of a lot of hockey over the last couple years.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

We are a long time removed from 2015 playoffs.

I don’t understand this take.

He is a significantly better player today than he was then.

Do people keep saying it because they haven’t watched him play since then?

[neo45]

It’s hilarious how much the Neal defense is the same as the Brouwer defense was in seasons past. You could probably just copy paste it!

I’m sure the locker room really loves the guy who isn’t pulling his weight, taking a huge piece of the money pie, and taking stupid penalties while better performers get their ice time cut to try and “get him going” after 50 awful games.

[Kybb79]

Ferly is getting no respect by alot of CP. I thought you guys knew hockey? The rest of the leauge values him. They can see he has improved every season.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

I don't want ferland back.

He's not effective when he plays bottom 6 and with the way this team is playing he shouldn't slot into the top 6 so I just don't see a fit.

He's been injured a ton this season and I think it sends the wrong message to all the RWs or guys playing RW if you bring him in.

Also you are looking at basically 50/50 chance he shows up and is awesome ferland or if he just floats and does nothing.

We are a long time removed from 2015 playoffs.

He is as effective in the bottom 6 as any top 6 player in the league. He won us a playoff series in the bottom six and has gotten better since then.

Why do you think half the league wants to trade for him? Even teams out of a playoff spot are interested

[Kickazzflames]

Love Ferly, but the cost to get him back from Carolina would be a much higher price than other teams.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by neo45

It’s hilarious how much the Neal defense is the same as the Brouwer defense was in seasons past. You could probably just copy paste it!

I’m sure the locker room really loves the guy who isn’t pulling his weight, taking a huge piece of the money pie, and taking stupid penalties while better performers get their ice time cut to try and “get him going” after 50 awful games.

No one is talking about any of that. They are saying he's looked better in recent games and we hope he is turning a corner. And if so, great, it's like adding a guy.

As for the locker room, who knows what makes it tick. I don't think they loved Hamilton and he put up a lot of points. I think they loved Stajan and he didn't. Guy are generally popular in the DR if they are friends with the other guys. Right now, other players aren't getting their time cut anyway. Neal has spent most of the time on the 3rd line. He's taking away time from who - Mangiapane? Hathaway? And I haven't noticed a lot of stupid penalties.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by neo45

It’s hilarious how much the Neal defense is the same as the Brouwer defense was in seasons past. You could probably just copy paste it!

I’m sure the locker room really loves the guy who isn’t pulling his weight, taking a huge piece of the money pie, and taking stupid penalties while better performers get their ice time cut to try and “get him going” after 50 awful games.

Difference being, Brouwer was actively hurting the clubs overall performance and production.

Neal simply isn't doing that as evidenced by the unprecedented success this franchise is experiencing.

Not a single guy in that room cares what Neal is making either. He is the one guy in there that has been to the finals twice, and most certainly will talk to the group about how to get there and what to expect.