Confirmed Trade: [CGY/EDM] James Neal for Milan Lucic (12.5% retained) and a 2020 conditional 3rd round pick Part 4
- Thread starter hangman005
- Start date
- Status
Fig
Absolute Horse Shirt
- Dec 15, 2014
- 12,968
- 8,453
TL;DR - I don't think it insane of a concept that Flames fan can say we're better with Lucic on the roster than Neal, while still accepting we completely lost the trade to Edmonton. It doesn't require too much advanced mental gymnastics to be contemplated.
Personally, I think there's two sides to the evaluation of this trade. IMO, any individual who thinks that Calgary won the deal needs to get his head checked. It's a win for the Oilers, plain and simple.
That being said, I do think that there is room for Flames fans to say to have optimism that the Flames aren't horrifically worse off with Lucic than Neal on the roster. Neal would not have been very much improved on our bottom 6/scratched/pissed off and many of us speculate that Neal had to be moved for whoever because there's reports that he's already a locker room distraction. There is quite a bit of evidence from the playoffs that he did not get along with Peters that isn't hearsay, and while we don't know exactly whether management was really upset with him... we do know he was traded for Milan Lucic.
Neal is in the perfect place to succeed and bounce back in Edmonton for a team that's starved of top 6 quality RW. Lucic, not seemingly a bounce back candidate in our bottom 6, but at least he's no locker room distraction like Neal was. Neal has seemingly nothing but positive value on the Oilers, but in Calgary, he was a negative. It's addition based on subtraction and most of what Flames fans are trying to say is that we aren't doing too bad if Lucic is a net zero vs a net negative. It sucks the Flames are on the raw end of the deal, but I think there is a reasonable logical argument to be made that we are slightly better off after this deal.
Personality wise, Neal does have a bit of abrasiveness to him. I seem to recall he chirped CMD in a tweet soon after signing in Calgary. The chirp was innocuous and nothing mean spirited. TBH, I wouldn't mind if Neal started chirping us. That would add an interesting element to the BOA.
John Johnson
Registered User
- Apr 11, 2019
- 2,084
- 1,864
ChaoticOrange
Registered User
We’ll be in the weird position of Flames fans hoping Neal rips it up as an Oiler... for one year at least.
Bounces R Way
Registered User
Can't wait to see what parts 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 bring us. FOUR MORE YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr Tadakichi
Never Reads OP Before Posting
- Nov 23, 2014
- 4,515
- 5,145
Mcnotloilersfan
I'm here, I'm bored
I fully agree with both teams potentially getting better from this deal. Calgary loses something that did nothing for them, and if Lucic embraces a bottom 6 role and just throws his weight around, that should make Calgary more difficult to play against. Edmonton is the more likely team to improve if Neal can in fact succeed in a top 6 role.
Should make the battle far more interesting this year between this and the Talbot/Smith swap (which I feel the Flames won easily)
McRpro
Cont. without supporting.
DFF
Registered User
- Feb 28, 2002
- 22,312
- 6,565
Not really. BT put that in to cover his ass in a remote possibility that Neal clicks with McDavid.
I doubt any Flames fans would cheer for an Oiler to score.....same with any Oilers fans to cheer for Lucic so the Oilers dont lose a pick
Scrantonicity 2
Not a Generational Poster
- Mar 7, 2016
- 2,639
- 3,391
I think a lot of people around here are really underrating Neal's ability to party. He probably jumps to the top of the Oilers depth chart in that category.
ChaoticOrange
Registered User
blankall
Registered User
- Jul 4, 2007
- 14,966
- 5,296
The only thing that makes this good for Edmonton is that they can buy out Neal easier than Lucic. Calgary wasn't going to buy out Neal. Calgary saves $500k in cap and gets some physical play, plus saves a lot of real money.
Both players suck, and may or may not rebound.
That's it. Everyone go home.
Both players suck, and may or may not rebound.
That's it. Everyone go home.
Lunatik
Registered User
- Oct 12, 2012
- 56,245
- 8,380
Best case scenario would be Lucic getting a but load of assists, he's always been a more effective playmaker than goal scorer.
Lunatik
Registered User
- Oct 12, 2012
- 56,245
- 8,380
tmurfin
That’s the joke
- May 8, 2010
- 11,243
- 1,280
Personally I think if the pick comes through, than it was a real loss. That being said, if Lucic can at the very least be a serviceable 3/4 line guy for us, I don’t care what Neal does, he wasn’t bouncing back with us either way unfortunately.
780il
edm
Lunatik
Registered User
- Oct 12, 2012
- 56,245
- 8,380
I don't understand this line of thinking. Worrying about how a player does after they are gone and you have no control is nonsensical to me. I feel like "winning" a trade comes down to whether or not you improved your team with the move. Both teams can win a trade.
tmurfin
That’s the joke
- May 8, 2010
- 11,243
- 1,280
Which is why I said, if Lucic is a serviceable player for us (something Neal wasn’t able to be), I wouldn’t care, we win on our end, who cares if Edmonton wins or loses in there’s. But, if both teams can win, someone can lose, if Lucic fails to be a serviceable NHLer for us, we lose on our end, if Neal has a bounce back and we get that pick, I’d consider it a real loss. But if both players do alright in their roles, it can be a win win sure.
Lunatik
Registered User
- Oct 12, 2012
- 56,245
- 8,380
That's just it, if Neal is serviceable we do win, that's my point. But, yes, both can win and both can lose, although I think the latter will be more difficult especially for us as Neal was no better than our 13th forward.
When they say Lucic cannot be bought out due to the structure f his contract, what do they mean?
- Status
Ad
Upcoming events
-
Pelicans Lahti @ Tappara Tampere - Tappara leads series 2-0Wagers: 1Staked: $14,588.00Event closes- Updated:
-
-
-
-
