He was paid $5.5M for his 30+ goal 60+pt season. 20-40 for 5.5 is not a great deal. 4 years left makes it a slightly risky acquisition but it is not a pure cap dump I agree.
The fact Zucker was still able to produce 20-20-40 despite having the second lowest shooting percentage of his career (9.8%. Career average is 12.1% (2.3% difference)) and by far the lowest oiSH% of his career (6.0%. Career average is 8.6% (2.6% difference)) is mightily impressive and suggests there's an excellent chance he rebounds and has an excellent season next year.
Not to mention he's an excellent two-way player 5v5 and 4v5 (one of the very best PK'ers in the entire NHL despite not getting much PK time this year), is an analytical stud, incredibly fast, and likes throwing his body around.
He's not only a great bounce back candidate, his contract is very solid.
Neal is essentially dead weight... he had 19 pts last year
Kessel had 82 pts last year and is only 1 million more in salary...
why would Pittsburgh do this, let alone add a pick?
Neal Malkin chemistry was pretty good. Might see if they could reignite it. It would for sure cost much more- probably our 1st+kylington or dube to get them even partially interested. I would still do that.
Would you guys consider a Kessel for Neal swap as the start for both teams?
Kessel and a Pick for say Neal/Kylington/Pick
Phil's cap hit is 6.8 / 3 years
Kessel+Maatta/Johnson for Neal+Brodie?
Maatta has fallen way off a cliff or the Johnson deal is another stinker to offset the Neal contract. Flames get a valuable top line winger in Kessel and the Pens get a solid top 4 D in Brodie.
Neal Malkin chemistry was pretty good. Might see if they could reignite it. It would for sure cost much more- probably our 1st+kylington or dube to get them even partially interested. I would still do that.
Neal has negative trade value .. the Flames would have throw in Kylington for a 6th round pick to a team that would buy him out.
It goes to show that the penguins thinks that 2018-19 was a wasted season as they like the Flames were blown out of the playoffs.
Kessell's 82 pt season gets negated by his playoffs ...
The best the Flames can hope for is some GM who thinks Neal's poor year was all about fatigue and (lack of) fit with the new club/coach and trusts or knows Neal enough that they believe he will bounce back.
The best the Flames can hope for is some GM who thinks Neal's poor year was all about fatigue and (lack of) fit with the new club/coach and trusts or knows Neal enough that they believe he will bounce back.
Fenton? Poile? McPhee?
Even if they thought he was a bounce back candidate, they would understand that here is risk to that opinion, and they would know they could get him for cents on the dollar due to his horrible year and remaining term and cap hit.
A large part of the attraction would be the fact they could get him for negative value and could extract lots for taking on that contract, regardless of their personal view of his chances of rebound.
The best the Flames can hope for is some GM who thinks Neal's poor year was all about fatigue and (lack of) fit with the new club/coach and trusts or knows Neal enough that they believe he will bounce back.
Fenton? Poile? McPhee?
I think this is wishful thinking. I doubt there is any GM that would trade for neal. Neal has a long way to go just to show he can be an everyday 3rd line player. Neal is out to lunch if he thinks he can get back to being a top 6 player. He is slow and his defensive play sucks.
I see the "bad contract" for "bad contract" scenarios and in each case Neals contract is far worse than the other players bad contract. Neals contract and play is closer to Lucic bad than Rask/Matta/Johnson bad.
Kessel still put up 82 points, and his playoffs may play a small part of his value, but 82 points is 82 points.
Neal had 19 points and was benched in the playoffs.
If you had not already noticed this is all a part of ricardodw's schtick: to dramatically devalue—if not entirely ignore—a player's regular season performance in the light of often microscopic windows of playoff success or failure. It is a well worn and oft repeated pattern with him.
But I tend to agree about Neal—there is almost no realistic opportunity for the Flames to move him in a trade. The best they can hope for is a better performance next season.
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Dealing with Everything from Dead Sea Scrolls to Red C Trolls
Quote:
Originally Posted by woob
"...harem warfare? like all your wives dressup and go paintballing?"
I think this is wishful thinking. I doubt there is any GM that would trade for neal. Neal has a long way to go just to show he can be an everyday 3rd line player. Neal is out to lunch if he thinks he can get back to being a top 6 player. He is slow and his defensive play sucks.
I see the "bad contract" for "bad contract" scenarios and in each case Neals contract is far worse than the other players bad contract. Neals contract and play is closer to Lucic bad than Rask/Matta/Johnson bad.
Neal for Okoposo is the only one I could see making any sense. Its about as lateral as you can get. Pure change of scenery deal.
