Value of: James Neal to BOS

[Bounces R Way]

Just curious what Bruins fans might be willing to give up for Neal. The Flames don't really need to move him or are likely to be shopping him at all in the first couple months of a brand new 5 year contract. He makes 5.75 per. This is more of a pure hypothetical.

He has scored 20 goals or more every season he's been in the NHL, this his 11th at 31 years old. Hasn't found a place in the Flames' top 6 yet this year, some of which is due to opportunity, some of which is due to his own poor play. He has 3 Gs 3 As on the year but hasn't been as bad as those numbers suggest, shooting at 4%. Think he might be a nice addition to DeBrusk-Krejci on the RW. The Bruins need some secondary scoring in a bad way as after Pastrnak, Bergeron, Marchand, Krejci, and DeBrusk their next highest scoring forward is Joakim Nordstrom with 5pts.

Flames don't really have any super pressing needs, but they might like to get cheaper up front.

Ryan Donato + a 2nd too much? What do you think?

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[Slyfox]

He has a negative value and will require some huge adds for anyone to take that potentially ugly contract.

 

[Sheppy]

Retain some salary and then... maybe?

 

[780il]

Negative value.

Boston isn't the one adding.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Backes and Neal on the books at a combined $11.75 mil cap hit through 20-21 sounds like a good idea.

 

[DingDongCharlie]

“Give” I think you mean get along with. Neal isn’t getting anything of value with his current play verses contract.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

At that production currently and cap hit, the Flames aren't interested in moving him?

Lol.

 

[Fig]

I think we're better off waiting for Neal to get used to his new stick. He's just snake bitten right now on top of the fact he's lobbing muffins with whatever he's using now as a twig. There's going to be some growing pains when the stick you've been using for like a decade suddenly is replaced by something not quite the same (Easton Mako which was discontinued when Bauer bought out Easton and buried their hockey line). Once he starts firing lasers, watch out!

 

[belair]

I think we're better off waiting for Neal to get used to his new stick. He's just snake bitten right now on top of the fact he's lobbing muffins with whatever he's using now as a twig. There's going to be some growing pains when the stick you've been using for like a decade suddenly is replaced by something not quite the same (Easton Mako which was discontinued when Bauer bought out Easton and buried their hockey line). Once he starts firing lasers, watch out!

You'd think a guy with that kind of contract would simply pay Bauer to make a personalized model, wouldn't you? If I were Calgary, I'd watch out when your GM dabbles in the UFA market. His track record hasn't been the greatest.

 

[Fig]

You'd think a guy with that kind of contract would simply pay Bauer to make a personalized model, wouldn't you? If I were Calgary, I'd watch out when your GM dabbles in the UFA market. His track record hasn't been the greatest.

I don't have the source, but my buddy says he swears he read or heard on the radio somewhere that Neal asked Bauer whether they would do exactly that and Bauer refused. I guess it makes sense as Bauer wants to promote their Vapor/Supreme/Nexus sticks and wouldn't be interested in cannibalizing their own product by keeping the Easton Mako line (rebranded as a Vapor/Supreme/Nexus or not). Neal further wouldn't just whimper into the night if his play would be so badly affected by the discontinuation of that stick. He'd definitely try to secure a supply of that stick. However, it seems like even if he had that stick, if it's Easton branded, he might not be able to use it anyways as there's some licensing aspect to the equipment usage and Easton's contract was not renewed.

Either way though, there's really no need to bleed value to someone to take Neal. He's not a total liability like Brouwer on the ice and off the ice it seems like he's been a good locker room glue sorta of guy unlike Brouwer who apparently ruffled a few feathers with some of his comments. Currently, with the other players of ours who are scoring like they are, we can afford to wait for him to find his scoring touch.

I don't completely disagree with your FA comment regarding our GM. It seems to be his Achilles heel for sure.

 

[Oates2Neely]

Zero interest. Contract too long for 31 year old. He’s struggling but he’s a scorer eventually he will turn it around.

 

[The don godfather]

Just curious what Bruins fans might be willing to give up for Neal. The Flames don't really need to move him or are likely to be shopping him at all in the first couple months of a brand new 5 year contract. He makes 5.75 per. This is more of a pure hypothetical.

He has scored 20 goals or more every season he's been in the NHL, this his 11th at 31 years old. Hasn't found a place in the Flames' top 6 yet this year, some of which is due to opportunity, some of which is due to his own poor play. He has 3 Gs 3 As on the year but hasn't been as bad as those numbers suggest, shooting at 4%. Think he might be a nice addition to DeBrusk-Krejci on the RW. The Bruins need some secondary scoring in a bad way as after Pastrnak, Bergeron, Marchand, Krejci, and DeBrusk their next highest scoring forward is Joakim Nordstrom with 5pts.

Flames don't really have any super pressing needs, but they might like to get cheaper up front.

Ryan Donato + a 2nd too much? What do you think?

Ryan donato is a fixture for years . Maybe just a 2nd round pick.

 

[DFF]

Nah the Flames need to keep Neal around to make Sam Bennett feels good....they both have the same kind of luck

 

[bennylundholm]

I think we're better off waiting for Neal to get used to his new stick. He's just snake bitten right now on top of the fact he's lobbing muffins with whatever he's using now as a twig. There's going to be some growing pains when the stick you've been using for like a decade suddenly is replaced by something not quite the same (Easton Mako which was discontinued when Bauer bought out Easton and buried their hockey line). Once he starts firing lasers, watch out!

lol

 

[lifelonghockeyfan]

What is about Calgary signing UFA right wingers...first Brouwer now Neal. Cap is so important and don't think any team is gambling on a 31 year old with five year deal. Is seem so strange that he may be have lost his touch so soon, but very possible.

 

[wingsfan17]

Yeah, no one is taking that contract.

He does have an odd habit of making teams better though, went to the finals with Preds and Knights two years in a row, and now Flames are leading the division. He's more of a good luck charm than a player at this point.

 

[dredeye]

It would be Neal at 1.5 million retained with a 3rd for Backes and a 4th. That's pretty much it.

 

[Fig]

What is about Calgary signing UFA right wingers...first Brouwer now Neal. Cap is so important and don't think any team is gambling on a 31 year old with five year deal. Is seem so strange that he may be have lost his touch so soon, but very possible.

Until this season, our RW has been brutal. Our RW has been a gaping hole for a really damn long time ever since Iggy left and we've had issues getting legit RHS in our top 6. To be fair, Treliving's failures in FA aren't even that horrible.

RW in 2014:
- Jiri Hudler
- David Jones
- Josh Jooris
- Devin Setoguchi
- Brian McGrattan
- Drew Shore
- Joe Colborne
(Only Jooris and maybe Colborne is left with a remote shot at the NHL)


RW FA signings off the top of my head:
Engelland (RW/D)
Frolik
Vey
Brouwer
Neal

Others (Trade etc.):
- Alex Chiasson
- Micheal Ferland
- Kris Versteeg
- Emile Poirier
- Garnet Hathaway
- Curtis Lazar
- Freddie Hamilton
- Foo

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

Neal for Lucic?

 

[t0nedeff]

He's putting up lucic numbers with a similarly horrid contract why would anyone take him for free?

 

[SlapshotTheMovie]

calling him a negative value is a bit dramatic but his value is at an all time low and you wont get much good back for him.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Nothing but intelligent well reasoned and rational responses. Tip of my hat to the HFBoards Trade section. Keep em coming

 

[Nothingbutglass]

I don't have the source, but my buddy says he swears he read or heard on the radio somewhere that Neal asked Bauer whether they would do exactly that and Bauer refused. I guess it makes sense as Bauer wants to promote their Vapor/Supreme/Nexus sticks and wouldn't be interested in cannibalizing their own product by keeping the Easton Mako line (rebranded as a Vapor/Supreme/Nexus or not). Neal further wouldn't just whimper into the night if his play would be so badly affected by the discontinuation of that stick. He'd definitely try to secure a supply of that stick. However, it seems like even if he had that stick, if it's Easton branded, he might not be able to use it anyways as there's some licensing aspect to the equipment usage and Easton's contract was not renewed.

Either way though, there's really no need to bleed value to someone to take Neal. He's not a total liability like Brouwer on the ice and off the ice it seems like he's been a good locker room glue sorta of guy unlike Brouwer who apparently ruffled a few feathers with some of his comments. Currently, with the other players of ours who are scoring like they are, we can afford to wait for him to find his scoring touch.

I don't completely disagree with your FA comment regarding our GM. It seems to be his Achilles heel for sure.

This is great spin...once he gets used to the stick it wont be a cap-sucking 5 year commitment anymore, a great add for any team...

 

[Arthur Morgan]

this is not the time for a Neal trade. he has not been him self. I hope for Calgary's sake he finds his game again. but you are stuck with him for now. but anything can happen. Leafs moved David Clarkson. a contract I thought was impossible to move

 

[t0nedeff]

and now the fear sets in