PTO: [STL] James Neal and Michael Frolik sign PTOs with the Blues

[MMC]

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[Nucks for the Cup]

Figured Neal would get a PTO, Frolik looks done

 

[Del Preston]

Rooting for Neal. Covid did a number on him last season. I hope he's past it now.

 

[Toronto makebeleifs]

A pto for neil? Thats a steal for the real deal!

 

[Hostile Offer]

I feel like Frolik would be just better off finishing his career in Europe, he's basically the definition of replacement level player in the NHL at this point.

 

[tarheelhockey]

10 years ago James Neal was a 40 goal scorer, now he's on a PTO. Life comes at you fast.

 

[jetsforever]

I like both those players, hope the PTOs work out

 

[Smartguy]

Figured Neal would get a PTO, Frolik looks done

Neal isn’t that far off either. He had a great first year in Edmonton, his legs were done, as every Calgary fan said, but he still had his hands and shot. Had a bad bout with Covid that put him behind the 8 ball last year. But outside of being a puck tap in PP guy I’d be surprised to see him find a role

 

[izzy]

i actually have some hope for frolik as a solid 13th forward, get back to a fraction of himself

 

[DJJones]

i actually have some hope for frolik as a solid 13th forward, get back to a fraction of himself

Hasn't been that guy for 3 years. Along with Neal probably one of the steepest year over year declines I'd ever seen.

 

[Nanuuk]

I wouldn't touch Neal with a 10ft stick. Not really a team guy and whatever skill he had left him about 30 seconds after he signed with Calgary.

 

[JaegerDice]

Not sure about Neal, but would be interested to see what Frolik could do if a team went to him and said 'you are a 4th line shutdown specialist and nothing more. You will spend roughly as much time 5v5 as you do 4v5'.

Cause that dude was ****ing FIRE as a pure, dungeon start, shutdown guy in Chicago in 2013. Yes, he had Marcus Kruger to play off of, which makes everybody's job in that deployment easier, but still. He was effective.

Yes, I know that's nearly a decade ago. But then he was used as a middle six offensive forward after that. I kinda want to see if that old defensive bag of tricks still holds up, even at minimum salary.

 

[Wasted Talent]

Anyone else surprised Frolik isn't older than 33?

 

[RantanenRavin]

Anyone else surprised Frolik isn't older than 33?

Absolutely, figured late 30s for sure

 

[Mobiandi]

No idea what happened to Frolik. Turned from Swiss Army knife middle 6er to healthy scratch fodder seemingly overnight.

Neal is beyond done at an NHL level.

 

[Kimota]

i actually have some hope for frolik as a solid 13th forward, get back to a fraction of himself

I said the same thing last year.

 

[JTRAIN1966]

I just want the Blues to f***ING SIGN Thomas already !

 

[GOilers88]

I wouldn't touch Neal with a 10ft stick. Not really a team guy and whatever skill he had left him about 30 seconds after he signed with Calgary.

He was a fine team guy in Edmonton.

 

[BHD]

In regards to Neal… can he at least shoot the puck?

 

[GOilers88]

In regards to Neal… can he at least shoot the puck?

He can shoot and throw his weight around. Thought he was decent in the play-in series against Chicago.

At least before he caught covid. It seemed to destroy any semblance of legs he had left though.

 

[Moose and Squirrel]

I just want the Blues to F#€KING SIGN Thomas already !

sounds like Thomas is playing hard to get

 

[JTRAIN1966]

sounds like Thomas is playing hard to get

There's gotta be something brewing !

If the Blues keep signing everyone but, Thomas & PTOing older ufas . There's definitely something coming soon .

 

[The Nuge]

In regards to Neal… can he at least shoot the puck?

He can, but he can no longer get in a position to use his shot unless on the PP. Covid absolutely destroyed him last year. He went from a player that we were happy to have to a guy that needed to be bought out. That said, he’s actually embraced the checking line role, so he could still be a useful player if he’s recovered more

 

[Moose and Squirrel]

There's gotta be something brewing !

If the Blues keep signing everyone but, Thomas & PTOing older ufas . There's definitely something coming soon .

the PTO's I don't worry about too much, especially in this case as both these guys appear to just be 'camp' guys

and Im guessing Thomas doesn't like the 'bridge' deal he's being offered, but dude hasn't been able to put together a healthy season since his rookie debut
but if Sanford is getting 2m, then Thomas is worth 3. just my opinion

 

[Beauterham]

the PTO's I don't worry about too much, especially in this case as both these guys appear to just be 'camp' guys

and Im guessing Thomas doesn't like the 'bridge' deal he's being offered, but dude hasn't been able to put together a healthy season since his rookie debut
but if Sanford is getting 2m, then Thomas is worth 3. just my opinion

I wouldn't look too much into it yet, quite a few good RFA's haven't been signed yet and we still have some time before the season starts. Barbashev also signed quite late last season for example. The only fact we know now is that Thomas is in town skating with a big chunk of the Blues roster.