Ongoing thread for Neal/Lucic discussion

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by neo45

I think it’s fair to ask now:

Is James Neal the worst Flame of all time?

Is he the worst free agent signing ever?

29 million dollar signing and he got 19 points, and was healthy scratched in the playoffs because his lack of backchecking in overtime lost us the game... traded after one year for a contract unanimously considered to be amongst the worst in the league

I think the answer to both questions is yes

Brouwer was really bad as well, maybe worse when you take in that he didn't improve in his 2nd season forcing them to buy him out. Neal never got that 2nd season to show if it was a one year anomaly or a truly horrible signing.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by 868904

Yea, but those are Oiler fans. Are you really taking advice and opinion from Oiler fans?

HF Oiler fans at that. That's like asking a bunch of Kindergarteners their opinion

[FanIn80]

I, for one, welcome our new Johnny-protecting underlord

[ComixZone]

People losing their minds like Neal did anything but cost us money and drag down his teammates.

Lucic fills a need and will fit nicely on the 3rd line.

Tree isn’t done, but Lucic makes the team better today than we were yesterday and as has been mentioned, Neal was a real bad fit here. The hysteria around this deal is unwarranted, and I think time will tell that - but it is understandable, as the idea of an Oiler joining our team is cause for concern. Neal was crap just like Smith was, and just like Gulutzan was - they were Oilers all along. I’m glad we in turn have added a physical threat with a Stanley Cup ring, and a 2nd on the way.

[btimbit]

Conditional Third the best player in the deal

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Brouwer was really bad as well, maybe worse when you take in that he didn't improve in his 2nd season forcing them to buy him out. Neal never got that 2nd season to show if it was a one year anomaly or a truly horrible signing.

Brouwer played on worse teams with an awful coach though, plus he had a smaller contract and actually threw some hits/won some fights.

In terms of production they are pretty much equally bad

[cannon7]

If the NMC is gone then this is a decent trade. Flames need grit and Neal wasn't bringing much. Both guys need a change of scenery.

[FanIn80]

Neal had literally zero impact for us on the ice. At least there’s the threat of Lucic pounding someone into the ice.

[868904]

One thing Tre talked a lot about in his season wrap ups was about how they needed to be a team that can play in both the regular season and the playoffs, where the game is very different, ie, much more physical.

Tre is probably hoping that Lucic will be effective in the playoffs and that he will give the other players the confidence to play bigger as well. It might be wishful thinking, but it's not like Tre can just go out and trade all the soft players on the roster for tougher players. This could be one way of making everyone tougher.

[Francis's Hairpiece]

Kind of crazy to start making absolute statements about how a player will play without seeing how he gels with his new team. I imagine it would be a huge weight off of the guys chest to get out of that ####hole up north. Maybe he has chemistry with Bennett? Maybe he does worse than last year. Who knows? I sure don't. Willing to wait and see before I get my pitchfork and torch and join the mob.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by 868904

Yea, but those are Oiler fans. Are you really taking advice and opinion from Oiler fans?

Who says I was taking advice from Oilers fans? They saw Lucic more than most of us here did an I can attest from frequenting game threads there were lots of games where McDavid was getting pushed around that they were upset that Lucic didn't do anything and they were right. I think if he was an actual deterrent for teams taking cheap shots at their skilled player(s) they may have not soured on him much but the truth is that he really wasn't much of a deterrent and didn't offer the team much on a game to game basis.

[Angelino]

Flames lost the deal in my opinion. Should have just kept Neal rather than acquire Lucic.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Angelino

Flames lost the deal in my opinion. Should have just kept Neal rather than acquire Lucic.

Why? So he could spend another season pouting in the corner that he didn’t get gifted premium ice time so he can sink our best players?

Neal actively made our team worse.

[Frequitude]

The Flames must have reallllly wanted Neal gone ASAP.

[Erick Estrada]

I would have much preferred a Neal for Turris swap even if Treliving had to sweeten the deal and I wasn't a fan of that either given Turris's contract is longer. Not sure if there was ever anything to that though.

[CaptainCrunch]

This whole the Oilers got a guy that can slot into the top 6, sure he'll play top 6 because they have nothing else. But that doesn't mean he'll do anything with it. The guy looked thoroughly disengaged last year and the shoulder tapping Lets go Captain ain't going to change that.


I don't neccessarily like the change, but I'm kind of glad that Neal is gone.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Who says I was taking advice from Oilers fans? They saw Lucic more than most of us here did an I can attest from frequenting game threads there were lots of games where McDavid was getting pushed around that they were upset that Lucic didn't do anything and they were right. I think if he was an actual deterrent for teams taking cheap shots at their skilled player(s) they may have not soured on him much but the truth is that he really wasn't much of a deterrent and didn't offer the team much on a game to game basis.

My reply was more of a joke and shot at Oilers fans. Don't take it personal.

I doubt there is a deterrent effect when it comes to Gaudreau, but I do think Tkachuk and Bennett will be much more annoying to play against next season when the Flames have one of the top 2 toughest guys in the league on the roster.

I'll always remember that time when Bieksa went after Tkachuk at a whistle, and Ferly came over and shut that down real fast.

We need Tkachuk and Bennett to play on the edge and play with swagger. If all Lucic does is help these two do that, then the trade can be favourable for the Flames.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

The Flames must have reallllly wanted Neal gone ASAP.

It think that's the reality. Canucks wanted to get rid of Eriksson but not as bad as the Flames wanted to get rid of Neal so here we are today.

[btimbit]

6.5m in cap space essentially tied up around Neal makes me smile though

[camm13]

Well perhaps Lucic can knock out the remainder of Neal's real teeth, and we can call this a win.