[Signing] Flames sign James Neal (5 years, 5.75 AAV)

[FBI]

Mangiapane -3
Ryan -3
Valimaki -3
Czarnik -5

Neal -9
OUCH

[Phagoof]

I wish we would of given him like 7.5m x 2 or something like that

I wonder if Pitt would consider Neal for Rust. He's struggled mightily like Neal has this year, but I like his game a lot and I think he would fit in nicely with the flames.

Here is my Armchair GM:

Neal for Rust

Bennett, Jankowski, 1st, Prospect for O'Reilly, Maroon

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-O'Reilly-Rust
Mangiapane-Backlund-Frolik
Maroon-Ryan-Hathaway
x Czarnik

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
Valimaki-Andersson
x Stone, Prout

Rittich
Smith

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Phagoof

I wish we would of given him like 7.5m x 2 or something like that

I wonder if Pitt would consider Neal for Rust. He's struggled mightily like Neal has this year, but I like his game a lot and I think he would fit in nicely with the flames.

Here is my Armchair GM:

Neal for Rust

Bennett, Jankowski, 1st, Prospect for O'Reilly, Maroon

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-O'Reilly-Rust
Mangiapane-Backlund-Frolik
Maroon-Ryan-Hathaway
x Czarnik

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
Valimaki-Andersson
x Stone, Prout

Rittich
Smith

There's just something inside that doesn't want the Flames to let Bennett go.

He's younger than Mangiapane for frigg sakes.

I just see a complete player, with highend untapped potential, that needs more confidence and time to work on a few things.

I don't think we should trade him anytime soon.

The big 4, Backlund, Bennett and Dube are the organizational forwards I want around the most for years to come.

[CanadaMatt]

Originally Posted by Phagoof

I wonder if Pitt would consider Neal for Rust. He's struggled mightily like Neal has this year, but I like his game a lot and I think he would fit in nicely with the flames.

Over the course of 1 equivalent period last night, Rust scored as many goals as Neal has in 32 games. I just can’t see Pitt making that deal.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Phagoof

Trade him to Vegas for a 7th while he's still move able.

It just isn't working, he's too slow for this team. He played almost 19min tonight and was atrocious. 31 Games is a good sample size. He's had 1 legit goal.

I said it before and I'll say it again, would rather have Brouwer on the 4th line.

Brouwer would probably be ok with Peters as the coach.

[ResAlien]

Clearly something is off, you don’t just forget how to hockey. If the current trend continues he’s a compliance buyout when those get out of jail free cards get distributed with the next lockout. Sure would be nice if he’d look like an NHL calibre player out there most nights though.

[868904]

You can see the frustration now. He had a run with some good games where he was getting chances but was snake bitten.

Last two games, he's not getting chances and he doesn't even seem engaged. He's never been a guy who competes hard for the puck or back checks hard, and he compensates with skilled shooting but if you aren't scoring, you better be busting your ass for pucks and he's not doing that.

He's going to have to up his "give a damn" meter soon or he might start hearing the boo birds himself.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by 868904

You can see the frustration now. He had a run with some good games where he was getting chances but was snake bitten.

Last two games, he's not getting chances and he doesn't even seem engaged. He's never been a guy who competes hard for the puck or back checks hard, and he compensates with skilled shooting but if you aren't scoring, you better be busting your ass for pucks and he's not doing that.

He's going to have to up his "give a damn" meter soon or he might start hearing the boo birds himself.

It’s hard to boo Neal. He is not very visible out there.

What he needs to be concerned about is Peters giving him a press box view of the game.

[btimbit]

I defended this guy every day since the season began saying he'd put it together eventually. Well it's almost Christmas and he still hasn't.

Not saying he won't, but it's definitely put up or shut up time

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Clearly something is off, you don’t just forget how to hockey. If the current trend continues he’s a compliance buyout when those get out of jail free cards get distributed with the next lockout. Sure would be nice if he’d look like an NHL calibre player out there most nights though.

Yeah I'm still thinking along these lines.

Good players don't just forget how to play. There's gotta be something behind all this, nagging injury or something.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

Yeah I'm still thinking along these lines.

Good players don't just forget how to play. There's gotta be something behind all this, nagging injury or something.

If he did indeed run out of his regular sticks permanently, as was previously mentioned, then it could be a mental adjustment matter. He is getting looks, some good ones too. They are just not going in.

Original Post

Neal's shot looks like crap for a sniper, so I did a little digging. I read somewhere that his "normal" stick was discontinued (Easton Mako) and he couldn't get it anymore, but I can't find the article. Supposedly, he recently ran out of the stockpile of his stick or something, so he's trying to find a replacement. Keep in mind, this is kinda huge when you realize that hockey players are apparently creatures of habit and are perhaps a little superstitious about their equipment sometimes to the point of ensuring that their hockey sticks are taped in a very specific manner.

Which Sticks are Scoring in the NHL? | The Hockey Gear Blog
Per this, Neal was using an Easton Mako once upon a time. I think it coincides with PSG going bankrupt ?(original owner of Easton and Bauer)

James Neal
Per this, he has switched to a Bauer Supreme 2S Pro

This, and I believe Neal is the type to start slow and get stronger as the season is longer... might be why I think he isn't looking great.

Player's Tribune: James Neal

Honestly, the feel of my stick is everything. I get a little bit OCD about my sticks before the game. It has to be just the way I want it or I won’t feel comfortable on the ice. The second I pick up a stick from the rack and I put it down, I can tell if it’s right or not. The feel of the flex is the most important thing. Also, the curve of the blade and the way that it’s taped. Everything matters. When I tape my stick, I use thick white tape and I wrap it from heel to toe. I leave a little bit of the toe untaped, because that’s where I usually release my shot from.

It’s not just the feel of it, it’s the visual, too.

Visual points are very important to a shooter. Typically, you’re looking down at your stick when you shoot the puck. The way the puck sits on your blade and how it looks to you is a very big thing, as strange as that may sound. That’s why guys are very particular about using white or black tape. If I had to play with black tape on my blade, I’d freak out. It’s kind of like what would happen if you came into the office and they switched your computer keyboard for another one. You’d just be uncomfortable, you know? You wouldn’t have any flow.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I don't really wade into this thread so apologies if this has been suggested many times over. Neal should play Ryan's spot on PP2. He needs to be on that flank so he can hook around at the top of the circle and rip his wrister. That's his bread and butter.

[Zoller]

I think the Flames play too fast for James Neal. He can't keep up

[Phagoof]

Originally Posted by Zoller

I think the Flames play too fast for James Neal. He can't keep up

This. The Flames are an odd man rush transition team, by the time he get's in the other zone, the team already had the scoring chance.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

I don't really wade into this thread so apologies if this has been suggested many times over. Neal should play Ryan's spot on PP2. He needs to be on that flank so he can hook around at the top of the circle and rip his wrister. That's his bread and butter.

I love much about Peters but Ryan on the PP is a mystery.

If nobody else can win draws, ok, but guys can. Frankly even if you lose a draw the other team dumps it and you recover the puck within 15 seconds.

So if you weigh the extra 5 percent of draws Ryan may win, offset by his dearth of offense, there is no reasonable justification for having him on the PP

[Da_Chief]

James Neal will never score another goal.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Zoller

I think the Flames play too fast for James Neal. He can't keep up

Originally Posted by Phagoof

This. The Flames are an odd man rush transition team, by the time he get's in the other zone, the team already had the scoring chance.

And Pens and Vegas aren't fast paced teams themselves?

It's not like James Neal hasn't been getting chances. The issue is he hasn't been converting on them.

[Karl]

I'd love to sit Neal out a game or two right now, but unfortunately the next man up is Lomberg.

[Toonage]

Lomberg will be in tomorrow. Best of both worlds!

[Underdog]

I'd like to see them try Neal on the wing with Lindholm at Centre. Gives him that elite playmaker and Elias can still play D to make up for Neal's lack of it. Sure we'd be breaking up the top line, but we need to get him going one way or the other since he's here to stay. This would have the added benefit of moving Backlund down to a true shut-down 3rd line role.