Confirmed Trade: [CGY/EDM] James Neal for Milan Lucic

[DomBarr]

So weird that NHL.com, TSN and others are reporting this trade but no details are available.

There is no way this can be a 1-for-1, right?

Its not Edmonton is supposedly retaining some salary, including a conditional pick and the rumour is the final detail of the trade is the Flames are negotiating a modification to his NMC. So the deal can still die but until all the details are out its hard to say who won.

 

[BatVader]

Ya most humans that have looch grabbing them to punch them out will not be laughing.

He hasn’t been an issue on ice in years.

 

[Soundwave]

Not so sure about that. If Neal couldn't even keep up with Tkachuks playmaking no way in hell he can do it with McDavid. Hell, even Bennett was too skilled for Neal to play with

Tkachuk isn't a great playmaker, McDavid is always looking pass first and has vision light years beyond Tkachuk.

 

[DFF]

Maybe but Chiasson really dropped off in the 2nd half of last year, only 6 goals. I think Neal is the better player.

Neal is worse than chiasson now..by quite a bit

 

[FirstRowUpperDeck]

Hard to believe the Oil will be debating between two disappointing ex Stars on their wing...…...

 

[LetsGoFlames]

Neal is handsomer and also has a nice smile

False. He's ugly and he can't read good.

 

[Snakepit]

Tkachuk isn't a great playmaker, McDavid is always looking pass first and has vision light years beyond Tkachuk.

Tkachuk is a great playmaker, obviously not on McDavids level of course. But if Neal can't even keep up with that how's he supposed to do it with McDavid? Remember, Oilers try to capitalize on the rush and Neal is just as slow as Lucic

 

[Seanaconda]

Chiasson didn't have the McDavid line spot in the 2nd half of the season, Kassian did. Chiasson was largely playing with RNH or on the 3rd line.

Chiasson started off hot on the third or forth line tho. He was shooting at like 40 percent for half the season

 

[Baxterman]

Ya most humans that have looch grabbing them to punch them out will not be laughing.

They will laugh as he gets 2 or 3 shots on their helmet before the ref gets there and he is gone for 2, 5 and a game (actually maybe they would be pissed he is gone for the game because his replacement would be much better). Plus hopefully at that time Peters would be telling him he is sitting out the rest of the season for hurting the team with his moronic instigator penalty.

 

[McFlyingV]

It's 2019, he cant just walk up and assault people.

Theres a reason no one really fights Lucic.

They would rather he be on the ice cause it benefits the other team.

Lucic also doesn't play hard against his friends. We saw it every time he played against LA Kings where he wouldn't hit guys like Kopitar or Carter. We know he's good friends with both Draisaitl and McDavid (not that he could catch any of them). Nurse has fought him before and while losing the fight held his own. I'm not really worried about that aspect of Lucic's game moving to the Flames. He literally only fought 3 times last season because most guys won't fight him. That aspect of his game is fairly non-existent these days.

 

[supsens]

Lucic? He wont protect Tkachuk.

He'll go find the smallest guy on the ice.

The other team will be trying to throw their weight around as payback and will have to risk it against him. And as far as the NHL goes he is as tough as it gets if it comes to that. Hes has fought people that could pick you up by the ankles and use you as a club to clean out a bar.

 

[oilexport]

Looch is still a tough guy that can hit. He still catches the odd guy and nails him good. No offense what so ever, contract sticks.

So depending on details of trade, it still works out for both teams. Switching problems....

 

[Soundwave]

Neal is worse than chiasson now..by quite a bit

I'd actually take that bet. Neal will outscore Chiasson next year. Chiasson had one hot stretch last year, Neal is the better player that just had an off year.

Neal will get lots of time on the Oilers top unit PP and splits with McDavid + Drai or Nugent Hopkins who is another pass first center.

 

[Seanaconda]

Tkachuk is a great playmaker, obviously not on McDavids level of course. But if Neal can't even keep up with that how's he supposed to do it with McDavid? Remember, Oilers try to capitalize on the rush and Neal is just as slow as Lucic

Off the rush the Oilers will score with McDavid and drai doing what they always do. They need a guy to get open when they are in the zone and shoot it

 

[Skolman]

Neal is worse than chiasson now..by quite a bit

I think you'll be surprised by Neal this upcoming year.

 

[crowi]

I just have to wonder what Benning was asking/offering for Lucic. Perhaps he tried to offer his key guy Markus Granlund and Holland was too embarrassed to keep going.

Yes I know where Granlund signed.

 

[Snakepit]

Off the rush the Oilers will score with McDavid and drai doing what they always do. They need a guy to get open when they are in the zone and shoot it

He doesn't get open, he stays still completely covered

 

[Frosty415]

Trade of the DECADE

 

[McFlyingV]

That's' even worse then. Chiasson is a better player than Neal at this point

He might be, but he wasn't 2 seasons ago. We'll wait and see if last year was just Neal not clicking and having a bad year, or if this is his new norm (he was still better than Lucic last year).

 

[HaNotsri]

What's that from? He looks like he's at a wake.

Maybe someone answered already but it’s his reaction to Edmonton winning the lottery. Not a joke.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Boy this is brutal for Calgary. Crazy the cost the flames are going to end up paying for that Neal contract.

 

[Cloned]

It's official. No take backsies!

 

[Sempiternal]

McDavid and Neal played together at an All Star Game.

 

[BatVader]

Not so sure about that. If Neal couldn't even keep up with Tkachuks playmaking no way in hell he can do it with McDavid. Hell, even Bennett was too skilled for Neal to play with

With the exception of Draisaitl, the whole Oilers team looks like OHL players compared to McDavid when he’s on the ice. Actually, this applies to the majority of the NHL...McDavid is legit.
Finding wingers to keep up to him is almost impossible, but you do what you can.
This trade, to me, is mostly addition by subtraction.
Edmonton is better without Lucic.

 

[McFlyingV]

Chiasson started off hot on the third or forth line tho. He was shooting at like 40 percent for half the season

Yeah definitely, I don't expect him to repeat 20 goals. I think he'll be in the 12-15 goal range.