[Rumour] McKenzie: "conceivable" that James Neal could be moved. Lots of TJ Brodie trade talk

[sureLoss]

On his latest podcast McKenzie did some quick hits on all the Canadian teams. said the following about the Flames around 81:30 mark:
https://open.spotify.com/show/6tshLttpldw1POjrqvg27W

1. it is conceivable that Neal could be moved
2. hearing a lot of trade talk with regards to Brodie. will have to see if anything materializes there

very brief comments with not a lot of detail so FWIW

[Yamer]

[nik-]

Ohhh yeah, that's the kinda talk I like.

[Poe969]

If they trade Neal, I hope it's for just cap room to get an elite player. I think last year was not the real deal Neal.

[neo45]

Gotta trust Treliving when it comes to trading guys away

- Hamilton
- Hudler
- Glencross
- Russell
- Baertschi

If you want a player off our team our GM never just gives him to you

[blankall]

Originally Posted by neo45

Gotta trust Treliving when it comes to trading guys away

- Hamilton
- Hudler
- Glencross
- Russell
- Baertschi

If you want a player off our team our GM never just gives him to you

I'd be very happy if the Flames managed to get out of Neal's contract and not have to add a sweetener on top. If Treliving could find a way to just "give him" to anyone, that'd be great.

[bluejays]

Neal coming to the team last year out of shape was absolutely unprofessional. Certainly there's an easy excuse of, "well he had a long previous season...", so then you take a month off to recuperate and get back to being professional and working out to get in shape. It's one thing to have a surgery or a major broken bone but to be lazy and say at years end through Commodore, "he knew he was out of shape and he'll be back next year..." is utter bs. There should be consequences. Rest assured that that contract will handcuff the team in any deal when he should have been a valuable piece to the team that signed him to a massive contract. Unprofessional.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by fleury

Neal coming to the team last year out of shape was absolutely unprofessional. Certainly there's an easy excuse of, "well he had a long previous season...", so then you take a month off to recuperate and get back to being professional and working out to get in shape. It's one thing to have a surgery or a major broken bone but to be lazy and say at years end through Commodore, "he knew he was out of shape and he'll be back next year..." is utter bs. There should be consequences and rest assured that that contract will handcuff the team in any deal when he should have been a valuable piece to the team.

And as annoying as that is it's a great reason to hold onto him. If the team is bent out of shape about it and don't want him (and they'd be right to feel this way) then make the prudent business decision - Let him come back with something to prove, start with 10-12 goals in the first half of the season and get something for him.

Don't get upset and say "**** it, I'll pay to get him off the team now". I'm sure Treliving will end up doing the latter.

[Toonage]

Conceivable.

I'll take it.

[Saqe]

Can't imagine anybody taking Neal's contract without sending salary back.

[Jacks]

He hasn't worked out here but I can't believe that he just suddenly can't play anymore. I can see him bouncing back with another team. Hope he gets his career back on track.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Jacks

He hasn't worked out here but I can't believe that he just suddenly can't play anymore. I can see him bouncing back with another team. Hope he gets his career back on track.

I can. The NHL is faster than ever and he's not fast at the best of times. He's a player that needs every bit of off season training to play. You miss a month you're toast.

Even young stars can't get away without full off season training.

EDIT: whoops, misread your post. Yes, you're right, it was the lack of off season training, likely.

[Owen15]

Originally Posted by Jacks

He hasn't worked out here but I can't believe that he just suddenly can't play anymore. I can see him bouncing back with another team. Hope he gets his career back on track.

It seems he literally hasn’t worked out here.

[868904]

I think the Turris for Neal rumour makes a lot of sense.

No one knows Neal better than the Predators and his cap hit is a little less and shorter term than Turris' which would help the Preds.

Flames are looking for a centreman and Turris would slide into that second line spot with Tkachuk and push Backlund down to anchor a shutdown line. Turris has been a slightly better offensive player than Backlund. Flames pay a little bit more in cap space and term but get a better fit for the roster.

A centre ice depth of Lindholm/Mony, Turris, Backlund, Ryan is a respectable group. Not a true number 1 centre there but could be enough especially if you have wingers who are the play drivers (Gaudreau and Tkachuk).

I think Kadri is number 1 on Tre's wish list, and if he can't land him, I think Turris would be number 2.

[CanadaMatt]

He was never the right fit for this team, such a curious signing at the time. He can be a 20 goal scorer elsewhere just not here imho
- too slow for the top line
- not a fit on the second line (which is our defacto checking line)
- third-line line-mates are not playmakers.
- fourth line wouldn’t give him enough minutes to make an impact

The ~6 million cap space would be awesome right now

[Joborule]

I'll be really impressed if Treliving is capable of offloading Neal, while not having to give up too much that hurts the team in the future. Wasn't confident this is a contract that he can offload this off season. Hopefully doesn't sacrifice too much if he does pull it off.

[btimbit]

So far it's only one down year, there's probably a few teams that think he could bounce back

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by fleury

Neal coming to the team last year out of shape was absolutely unprofessional. Certainly there's an easy excuse of, "well he had a long previous season...", so then you take a month off to recuperate and get back to being professional and working out to get in shape. It's one thing to have a surgery or a major broken bone but to be lazy and say at years end through Commodore, "he knew he was out of shape and he'll be back next year..." is utter bs. There should be consequences. Rest assured that that contract will handcuff the team in any deal when he should have been a valuable piece to the team that signed him to a massive contract. Unprofessional.

Neal wasn't able to do full workouts the past two years cause his team went to the Finals and he had injuries that didn't allow him to do regular workouts. In the run with Nashville he played with a broken hand.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Poe969

If they trade Neal, I hope it's for just cap room to get an elite player. I think last year was not the real deal Neal.

I certainly get that feel.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

Neal wasn't able to do full workouts the past two years cause his team went to the Finals and he had injuries that didn't allow him to do regular workouts. In the run with Nashville he played with a broken hand.

Still an excuse - he could still have taken a month off and rode a bike and after that injury is healed, get back at it. It's unfair to a team who's relying on you and spending that much dough to do what he did. I get annoyed with entitled millionaires.