Confirmed with Link: Neal signed (1 year, 750K)

[BlueDream]

Per the Blues’ social accounts, he takes the minimum.

Great news.

Click to read more...

 

[elkranio]

Each goal will be co-sponsored by the Oilers.

 

[EL Bandito]

I assume he takes Clifford's spot, saving $250k in cap. Great move.

 

[Thallis]

I assume he takes Clifford's spot, saving $250k in cap. Great move.

Both will probably make it. Neal will likely be a top 9 regular if the lines from practice and last night are anything to go by.

 

[Reality Czech]

Both will probably make it. Neal will likely be a top 9 regular if the lines from practice and last night are anything to go by.

Sanford replacement, basically. Neal will be hungry to show he's still an NHL player, and I'm looking forward to seeing him wear the Blue Note this year.

 

[Ranksu]

Neighbours and Kostin AHL?

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

I mean, if he can regain his pre-COVID form and chemistry with DP57, the Central is in for a world of hurt

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Sanford replacement, basically. Neal will be hungry to show he's still an NHL player, and I'm looking forward to seeing him wear the Blue Note this year.

Maybe he'll help the team get off to a great start and then fade as he has in the recent past. The Blues can get their money's worth and then place him on waivers.

 

[Sweetpotato]

Neal was a great depth scorer in the play-ins. Should be a great value signing if he can get back to the conditioning he had before he got covid.

 

[Ranksu]

I mean, if he can regain his pre-COVID form and chemistry with DP57, the Central is in for a world of hurt

I guess if he produce ~15 points in +40 games it's really good signing.

 

[Ranksu]

Need to see him playing first. This is long time I haven't been able to watch out games at pre-season. Kind of black out where our players are at and specially our prospects.

Working and time at gym is limiting my time to watch games at night.

Next year I'm 40 and 2-4 am game watch full 82 games + playoffs over +8 years has take piece of me. I can't maybe take it anymore.

 

[BlueOil]

i'm alright with it since it's league minimum

i'll have short patience with him but he's looking good enough so far

 

[AjaxManifesto]

I like Neal...a pure gamer and puck hound when healthy

I always enjoyed watching him and DP in Vegas.

 

[Bobby Orrtuzzo]

Neighbours and Kostin AHL?

I think Neighbours can only go back to the WHL, but he might get the 9 game trial and sent back down

 

[stl76]

Meh, its a low risk medium reward signing. Not over the moon about it, but it's hard to hate. Can't say he didn't earn a spot with his play.

Guess this means Kostin likely starts in the A, but maybe they try to sneak Brown thru waivers?

 

[542365]

Fine by me. Might mean we lose Brown to waivers or send Neighbours back to the W without a trial, but neither of those concern me a whole lot. Whole contract can be buried in the A if necessary. That’s the most important thing to me.

 

[Thallis]

Fine by me. Might mean we lose Brown to waivers or send Neighbours back to the W without a trial, but neither of those concern me a whole lot. Whole contract can be buried in the A if necessary. That’s the most important thing to me.

I doubt other teams will claim Brown. Better players around the same age make it through around this time every year, that contract slot is more valuable to teams than Brown right now.

 

[EL Bandito]

My 14:

RoR
Perron
Schenn
Buchnevich
Saad
Tarasenko
Thomas
Kyrou
Neal
Barbashev
Bozak
Kostin
Brown
Neighbours (9 game then whl)
Sundqvist (takes Neighbours spot when healthy)

Clifford, MacEachern, Joshua, Walker provide depth in the AHL

I can't remember ever having this much forward depth. Apparently Brown is on waivers, thought he'd get the 14th spot at least until Sunny was back. Oh well.

 

[rumrokh]

Need to see him playing first. This is long time I haven't been able to watch out games at pre-season. Kind of black out where our players are at and specially our prospects.

Working and time at gym is limiting my time to watch games at night.

Next year I'm 40 and 2-4 am game watch full 82 games + playoffs over +8 years has take piece of me. I can't maybe take it anymore.

Dude, I'm with you. These days, one night without enough sleep sucks, but is tolerable. Two consecutive nights without enough sleep and I feel like I might die.

 

[blueper]

I'm really liking the differences up front since last year. Should be MUCH harder to play against and give us a chance to spend more puck possession time in the offensive zone. Neal, Buch, Saad, Kostin, Neighbours, add a heavier dimension that was noticeably lacking last year.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

If Neal plays the way for us he did in Vegas, I think he's got a chance to really make an impact here. I always thought of him as more of a sniper, but in that video he scores a lot of his goals by going to the net. Almost all of his goals are scoring in the "home plate" area, and a bunch of them are not off of his initial shot, but him tipping/cleaning up the trash. I had this image of Mike Hoffman 2.0, and it seems like he's a totally different scorer.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

I mean this is pretty low risk, with moderate upside. I’m completely fine with it. If he’s trash, then we can just waive him and send him to Springfield.

 

[i aint Dunn yet]

will the real deal step up ?

 

[AjaxManifesto]

The more I think about this, the better I like it.

Neal is a puck hound in front of the net. He has a nose for loose pucks. He's also very good 10-20 feet out with a quick shot. I think the team is missing this kind of player. This is a good pickup at minimum cost.

As to how this binds up our roster and some guys getting sent to the AHL who should be learning in the NHL, well, give it a few months. Injuries (or COVID) WILL happen. I also think Tank will get traded before Xmas. Then all our depth will be needed.

Better start booking flights between Springfield and STL.

 

[67Blues]

Maybe Neal can teach Kostin how to become that type of player?