I remember listening to the actual quote — I’m no James Neal apologist but I don’t think it is exactly in context to say he was blaming his poor play on not being on Johnny’s line. It is likely true that when he signed the intention was that he would be on the top line, until of course his game suddenly went into the toilet.
Thanks for this. I may be this board's biggest James Neal hater, but there is definitely no reason to criticize Neal after listening to this clip.
I saw the Flames play live in Vancouver. I managed to get a great deal on seats directly behind the bench. Neal got multiple teeth knocked out and came back to battle that game. One of my fondest hockey memories is watching Neal have his teeth handed back to him by the refs and the look on his face.
The major issue with Neal is that he refuses to acknowledge that he's a not a superstar. He never learnt basic defensive awareness and refuses to learn it. He's a big body but refuses to use that body for anything but driving to the net for goals.
He is very frustrating to watch unless things are going his way, and he's in a position to knock pucks into the net from in close.
Does he have a chance of landing an nhl gig? Sounds more to me like “James and the giant reach”
Sign him to league minimum…. Play him for the first 10 or so games, go on a 10 game winning streak and then send him down for the rest of the season to the AHL…. That’s all he’s good for, a fast start.
Does he have a chance of landing an nhl gig? Sounds more to me like “James and the giant reach”
Every year he somehow gets a small contract due to amazing pre-season performances, then he proves he sucks during actual regular seasons and gets demoted or sent to the minors. I think the same will happen again.
Neal knows why it didn't work out for him in Calgary. He knows.
Can you imagine if he was a team player... and put in the effort. At some point you think you would look in the mirror and think to yourself, it's not them... it's me, and make the change. The skills he has, he's just lazy out there and a jerk when he gets called out for it. Calgary, Edmonton, St. Louis all gave him an honest try... and now Columbus may try and give him a saving hand... if he would just grab it, change his attitude, he could resurrect his career.
I saw the Flames play live in Vancouver. I managed to get a great deal on seats directly behind the bench. Neal got multiple teeth knocked out and came back to battle that game. One of my fondest hockey memories is watching Neal have his teeth handed back to him by the refs and the look on his face.
The major issue with Neal is that he refuses to acknowledge that he's a not a superstar. He never learnt basic defensive awareness and refuses to learn it. He's a big body but refuses to use that body for anything but driving to the net for goals.
He is very frustrating to watch unless things are going his way, and he's in a position to knock pucks into the net from in close.
The bolded is the perfect summation of James Neal.
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"Calgary was kinda the death of me.....been a battle since then...went there to play on JG's line....ended up on 4th line"
Got it. So somebody else's fault. Huge contract, known scorer which we needed, and sulked because his spot on top line was taken by Lindholm. Try driving your own line in a way that was commensurate with your pay. What a bitch.
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"Fun must be always!" - Tomas Hertl
it certainly reads worse than it sounds when you listen to the clip. If Neal is honest to himself, he know perfectly well why it didn't work out in Calgary and why he has regressed so badly. Getting up there in age doesn't help if you're slow to begin with and simply don't put in the work. We all hoped it'd work out here, but Calgary being "the death of him" is obviously on him, not the Flames.
