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

[N-E-B]

I also think it’s conceivable that Neal scores 17-20 goals again next season. I’m not opposed to trading him by any means but I’m open to keeping him.

[Roof-Daddy]

He'll probably get traded and put up 25g/45p while being a giant agitating pain in the ass.

[mrdonkey]

There’s just no way in today’s NHL climate you can unload James Neal without taking a howler back yourself.

That said, I could see a swap for Turris working for both teams.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I also think it’s conceivable that Neal scores 17-20 goals again next season. I’m not opposed to trading him by any means but I’m open to keeping him.

Agreed, I'm happy either way, just don't waste money on a buy out

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

There’s just no way in today’s NHL climate you can unload James Neal without taking a howler back yourself.

That said, I could see a swap for Turris working for both teams.

I think there’s absolutely a way. Several maybe.

Neal was bad, but it was one bad year. I’m sure there are teams out there that think it’s an anomaly and teams out there that need to get to the cap floor.

I’m not yet convinced it’s a garbage out/garbage in scenario. I think the value is low, but I think he has value. One more season like last? Then yeah, we’d be screwed. Best to move on from him now.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by fleury

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.

Do you know the guy? No? Then maybe hold off on pejorative labelling.

I don’t know why James Neal had such an awful year last year, but I sure do hope he is better next season. There is not much more to be said than that.


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[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I also think it’s conceivable that Neal scores 17-20 goals again next season. I’m not opposed to trading him by any means but I’m open to keeping him.

The arguement about moving him is our forward group looks as follows:

Top 6 - Gaudreau, Monahan, Lindholm, Tkachuk

Bottom 6 - Mangiapane, Bennett, Ryan, Hathaway, Jankowski, Dube

Could be bottom or top 6 - Backlund

Spare - Czarnik

Gone - Frolik

Where does he fit in if we want to improve by moving Frolik out and getting another legit top 6 player?

I could see us moving Jankowski but the other regulars should be back. Dube should also be in the lineup as a regular considering he almost made the team out of camp 2 years ago and then did make the team out of camp this past yr and after getting sent down ripped the AHL a new @sshole.

Sure we could move Janko get someone else and keep Neal but I just dont think it's the best option.

He wants top 6 minutes and I just dont see a fit here if we want to bring in a new player.

[neo45]

it’s still absolutely ridiculous that this org was having Neal “try to find his game” during overtime of a playoff game.

For the record, his “game” is being a trigger man that needs a better player on his line to set him up. There’s no spot for that game here. He will drag down any line he is on more than he helps it.

[Roof-Daddy]

Man, if they could deal Neal, Brodie and Frolik they could take a real shot at Duchene.

[kyuss275]

Only way some team will take Neal is if we take their bad player. IE Erickson from vancouver.

Just have to hope he can be better next year . I personally think he is way to slow for this team, doesn't really fit on any line, and its going to be another tough year for him. ( just not as bad as this year)

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Man, if they could deal Neal, Brodie and Frolik they could take a real shot at Duchene.

I think they could take a swing at Taylor Hall too. They have the pieces that I think New Jersey would be interested in (1st round pick, a good young defenseman likely to be lost in the expansion draft, maybe another decent prospect like Dube or Mangiapane).

[flylock shox]

I saw absolutely nothing in Neal's play last year that gives any suggestion whatsoever that he is capable of playing to a higher level, or could be traded for anything of value whatsoever.



Best thing the Flames can do is leap on the first palatable deal available, whether it comes this summer or a few months into the season. Even if he has a "hot" start to the year (which I'll say is anything over 5 goals in his first 20 games) the Flames shouldn't think twice about moving him to any interested suitor unless the return is worse than hot garbage and a side of fries.



If it's just the fries, you pull the trigger on that deal and move on.

[djsFlames]

As long as there's minimal or no cap "dead weight" coming back, I'd be ecstatic.

Needless to say, I'd expect we'd have to send an asset with him, and that's fine.

Clear up some room and net a useful free agent after trading TJ.

[JTech780]

The issue with Neal in this lineup is that I don't think you can play him with either Monahan or Tkachuk, I don't think you can play two slower players together on the same line. Neal needs to be played with two players who can skate and can play with pace. Unfortunately his best fit is probably with Mangiapane and Ryan, but then you are playing him in a 4th line role maybe a 3rd line role.

Finding success in hockey is about putting players in the right role to succeed, so if there is a move where we can trade Neal and get a player that fits a role better on this team then you have to look at that trade.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Agreed, I'm happy either way, just don't waste money on a buy out

If they buy out Neal then Tre needs to get his UFA keys taken away.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

Neal has never been a good skater but last year was abysmal. He's legitimately no longer an NHL calibre player but his reputation will afford him one more season in the league for another team. If no one trades for him I think the Flames will buy him out. Whoever gets him probably will have to as well unless he develops an allergy to hockey.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Saqe

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

It is, in fact, inconceivable.

[SuperMatt18]

Honestly based on that Hayes contract and the other UFA contracts this year a GM might look at Neal with a $1M retained and say “worth a risk he bounces back”

Jeez these contracts so far are crazy

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Saqe

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

Too bad the Oilers dumped Chia.

Treliving : Yes, McDavid is a much better player than Lucic but think about how much cap space you save by trading us McDavid instead of Lucic. I'm making my cap hard to manage while doing you a huge solid here.

Chia: Yeah, you're right. Neal for McDavid it is and since you're being kind to my cap space I'll only take this year's first rounder, you can keep next year's.

[1qqaaz]

What if they try to inflate his value at the beginning of next season?
Kind of like what the Canucks did with Cody Hodgson before trading him mid-season (the return ended up being nothing, but still).

If Neal really does come to camp into shape, maybe he'll be a bit better. Perhaps he can play with Backlund and Tkachuk for a bit while being on the second PP unit.

If the Flames are going for Hall, they'll need cap space for the 2020 free agency. However, the 2020 free agency appears to be pretty shallow in terms of forwards, so it would be quite a gamble.