Value of: James Neal at $3M

[blankall]

How not? A playoff contender at the deadline with minimal cap space doesn’t want to bring on a perennial 20 goal scorer that brings grit, leadership, and tons of playoff experience? And he’s not even a rental? He’s 33, not 37. I agree, Neal at $5.75M with three years left is a big turn off, but $3M? That’s a different story entirely.

Rick Nash got a 1st as a rental and that’s pretty damn similar. Both 33, both declined in recent years, but still playing at 20 goal/.5 PPG pace.

What the hell.....Nash is nothing like Neal, and in hindsight the Nash deal was a huge overpayment.

With huge retention, you're getting close to neutral value on Neal, not a first.

 

[HawkeyTalkMan]

What the hell.....Nash is nothing like Neal, and in hindsight the Nash deal was a huge overpayment.

With huge retention, you're getting close to neutral value on Neal, not a first.

Neal is also a disaster 5v5 playing on the bottom six and is a black hole of production. Nash was at least a 200ft solid impact player. Neal is invisible when not on the power play, and even then, he's just a stationary weapon

 

[Mick Jagr]

While it’s true that JVR has been a disappointment for the Flyers, it doesn’t feel like he’s quite fallen to James Neal level disappointment at this point in time. He’s younger than Neal and has been putting up an impressive points to toi ratio that shows he still has some offensive gas in the tank. I’d say that JVR has next to no value right now, but I’d also say that Neal has more negative value. I don’t think the contracts quite balance it out without some retention on Neal. It feels as though he’s been relegated to bottom six duties due to his lack of play away from the puck and his coasting(qualities Neal is known for as well)

If the Flyers disagree though, the Oilers should take the deal and run. If we ignore his disappointing playoffs, JVR is clearly the better player here and would probably still pot a number of goals playing with the supporting cast on the Oilers who would be forced to use him in the top6 due to lack of depth.

You're correct. He's not at a James Neal level yet, but he's nowhere near worth 7 million. He has one of the worst contracts in the NHL. Think of how much better Philly could have been this post season if they weren't paying him 7 million?

 

[treple13]

Neal is also a disaster 5v5 playing on the bottom six and is a black hole of production. Nash was at least a 200ft solid impact player. Neal is invisible when not on the power play, and even then, he's just a stationary weapon

Neal is also a disaster 5v5 playing with the top six and he's definitely not invisible outside the power play, but not in a good way. He's slow, not tough, doesn't play hard, etc.

 

[treple13]

To answer the question, look at the Marleau deal for inspiration. Toronto paid a first to get rid of $6 mil for one year of Marleau. How much would Edmonton have to pay to get rid of $9 mil over three years for Neal? More than a 1st.

 

[HawkeyTalkMan]

Neal is also a disaster 5v5 playing with the top six and he's definitely not invisible outside the power play, but not in a good way. He's slow, not tough, doesn't play hard, etc.

yeah that's what I was kind of alluding to but you're right, he will quickly play himself out of any top 6 role

 

[GOilers88]

Neal is also a disaster 5v5 playing with the top six and he's definitely not invisible outside the power play, but not in a good way. He's slow, not tough, doesn't play hard, etc.

Not to say anything about the rest of Neal as a player, but he was most certainly throwing his weight around. I thought it was noticeable anyways.

 

[treple13]

Not to say anything about the rest of Neal as a player, but he was most certainly throwing his weight around. I thought it was noticeable anyways.

Come to think of it, I did notice him hitting a bit in the qualifiers, and I can't recall once seeing that in Calgary. Rest of what I said still stands

 

[One Winged Angel]

We already have enough dead money on the books from retention/buyouts. Hold onto him for a year and try to ship him to Seattle. If a big FA (aka Pietrangelo) wants to sign here and we desperately need space then just buy him out and go for it.

I’d say this is Edmonton‘s best course of action.

 

[Calad]

How not? A playoff contender at the deadline with minimal cap space doesn’t want to bring on a perennial 20 goal scorer that brings grit, leadership, and tons of playoff experience? And he’s not even a rental? He’s 33, not 37. I agree, Neal at $5.75M with three years left is a big turn off, but $3M? That’s a different story entirely.

Rick Nash got a 1st as a rental and that’s pretty damn similar. Both 33, both declined in recent years, but still playing at 20 goal/.5 PPG pace.

Nash was renowned for his 5v5 and defensive play. Neal... not so much.

 

[SEALBound]

I don't think there's any way about it, just like the swap with Lucic, it will have to be a crap for crap swap with someone of similar contract.

Jack Johnson with the Penguins would be a good example. Victor Rask maybe? Just depends on what team needs are and where teams can hide those crap players best.

 

[n8]

*somebody* is going to ask for Broberg to take that contract

 

[TFHockey]

Oilers can move Lucic if they add an unprotected first 2019 to the deal

You not going to find buyers for the Oilers crap

You said exactly the same thing about Lucic, and lo and behold were 100% proven wrong.

Neal can be moved in the right trade just as Lucic was.

 

[GOilers88]

You said exactly the same thing about Lucic, and lo and behold were 100% proven wrong.

Neal can be moved in the right trade just as Lucic was.

Now Neal is Lucic. Unmovable anchor contract the team will be stuck with because there's no way any other team would be willing to make a deal without having astronomical adds attached, and we'll have to watch as Lucic happily waives for the ED whereas in Edmonton there was no chance of that ever happening. He's actually still a pretty useful player.

 

[madmike77]

At this point in his career, Neal is a pure PP specialist. He's awful in any other situation - 5v5 or PK. I seriously doubt he'd get any interest.

EDIT: To be fair he is really good on the PP, but no one is likely to pay a premium for that.