You are holding a 50 pt 31 year old player to a very high standard for the next 5 years. He isn't the same player anymore. If it was 3 years I think it is fine.
Confirmed Signing with Link: [CGY] James Neal (5 years, $5.75M AAV)
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You are holding a 50 pt 31 year old player to a very high standard for the next 5 years. He isn't the same player anymore. If it was 3 years I think it is fine.
Unspecified
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- Apr 29, 2015
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I fail to see how this is a bad contract, he has never scored anything less than 20 goals a season. All these armchair GM's coming out of the woodwork thinking they know more than those who actually offer the contracts is laughable.
Tkachuky
Registered User
People just look at his age and $/Yr... Don't bother.
As a Flames fan, I am happy we finally have someone that is 'shoot first' mentality. I firmly believe he can be the Stall of this coming season where he gets 40G [IF ON THE LINE WITH JOHNNY]
37/67*82 = 45 pt season
82 = 58 pt season
41/70*82 = 48 pt season
44/71*82 = 51 pt season
No. He just isn't the player that he was before. That doesn't even take into consideration his playoff performances either.
Tkachuky
Registered User
I mean look at Marleau. I'm not turning this on the Leafs but this Neal contract simply is not bad. The Flames need scoring and guys that will shoot the damn puck and hit the net.
Matt24
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- Apr 8, 2013
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It’s not difficult to see he’s already started to lose a step, people are just assuming the natural progression of that will cause this contract to sour in the last couple years. Pretty simple.
Hunter Gathers
The Crown
wingsfan17
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Neal is a complimentary player, you set him up and he spikes it down, he doesn’t make room for himself but if he has linemates that can find him open, he will score.
Over that 4 year span, he was on a 40 goal pace with Johansen. Other than Johansen, his centers were 3rd line centers AT BEST. They were Jarnkrok, Haula, and the ghost of Mike Fisher.
If he plays on the top line in Calgary, he’ll be great, otherwise expect another subpar 20-20 season.
mcpw
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Oh boy, the Flames are actually going to have more than five forwards this year.
Dipsy Doodle
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- May 28, 2006
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Solid deal for a guy whose biggest weapon (his shot) is going to be with him 'til the end of the deal. If he can carve out some space on PP1, he'll put up some decent numbers.
The Marleau contract was for 3 years to a guy who hasnt missed a game in like 8 seasons. If it was 5 years I'd be scared too. I thought the Leafs should have gone 2 years and I think most Leaf fans will say a 3rd year is bad but the point is people were comfortable with Marleau for 2 years but not 3. At this point Marleau is doing exactly was he was signed to do.
So again, I think Neal for 3 years is a good deal. Neal for 5 years means you are eating 2 years at a point where the Flames need to be competitive. Its a lot harder to sell off 2 years of a contract instead of just 1.
Its never so much about the cap number as it is the term. You can eat almost any 1 year bad deal and be fine.
Dazed and Confused
Ludicrous speed, GO!
Ehh fair enough, but at the same time he typically misses ~10 games a year. He's a good fit for Calgary, but I don't see him crack 25/50, unless he starts taking time away from Tkachuk. He's just not that player anymore, as neither Johansson/the Nashville defence or the Mitas Touch of Vegas could get him over the hump.
Where's he expected to line up? Top line RW, or with Bennett and Janikowski on the 3rd. From the outside it looks like he's stepping into the role Jagr was supposed to fill.
Hunter Gathers
The Crown
Actually, most of us look at how his skating has declined year after year (over the last few) and THEN his age.
He actually is closer to Stalling than he would be to skating at this point.
JustaFinnishGuy
Joonas Donskoi avi but not a SEA fan ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
So will his skating stay the same, along with effort? Doubt it. He is the type of player who mails it in when times get rough, but is undoubtedly top 6 material. I think the league employs lots of people like him.
Thallis
No half measures
That's a good deal. 5 years is a while, but these days unloading contracts with high numbers isn't really an issue. Retain $2M after 3 years and you'll get a pretty value.
Tkachuky
Registered User
You don't think he can get 30+ with Johnny and Monahan?
ottawa
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You think the young rate for 3rd liners is going to jump from 2.5m to nearly 6m?
Hunter Gathers
The Crown
He'd have to be able to keep up with them. Those guys will be in the zone while he's at your own blue line. Not sure he's the best fit with someone like Johnny.
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