When did Neal play primarily with Sutter? I thought Neal played with Jokinen and Malkin in the 2013-14 playoffs. -edit- Ah, we loaded up with Sid and Geno on L1, Jokinen - Sutter - Neal on L2 in the Rangers series.
Neal played with Jokinen and Geno for the Columbus series. In the Rangers series, Neal's linemates were; Geno/Jokinen in games 1 and 2. Split time with Geno and Sutter in game 3. Went with Sutter in games 4, 5, 6, and was back with Geno and Jokinen for game 7.
So, if anything, he wasn't with "Sutter in 2014."
It was Sutter for 3 and a half games of an entire post-season. And oddly enough, Sutter and Jokinen had 4 points over the 3.5 games that line was together. Nealer? One assist.
I don't know. You cannot tell me Neal lived up to par, let alone exceeded the expectations of a scoring line winger on this team while he was here. For the playoffs, that is. He just didn't.
He had one goal and no assists in six games through the Columbus series, and 1g, 2a, 3pts through 7 games of the Rangers series. Those are just two series, but they fit the bill for the majority of his time as a Penguin in the post season.
His totals (omitting the 7 games with Letestu in 2010-11 for sake of argument);
31GP (27.5 with Geno) - 10g, 10a, 20pts
The bulk of his 20pts came in a two-game explosion against Ottawa (5g, 4a, 9pts). Not discounting that production, but to point out that nearly half of his points came in two games. An anomaly in the data.
29GP (25.5 with Geno) - 5g, 6a, 11pts
How in the world is that acceptable production for a guy like Neal, alongside arguably the best player in the world at any given time, with top PP time?
And this is strictly arguing production. It's not touching on the fact that he was a lazy floater, prone to stupid, petulant penalties, and idiotic cheap-shots. The dude stunk it up in the post-season, and punched his own ticket out of town.