JAMES NEAL - Right Winger - 31 - $5.75MM Cap Hit - UFA in 2023-2024
LAST UPDATED 6/28/19
Well that was a mistake. After a strong but not overwhelmingly impressive season in Vegas, James Neal was rewarded with a MASSIVE contract to be the missing piece on the Gaudreau first line. Instead of fitting in on that top line, Elias Lindholm took his spot and Neal had the worst season of his career. He was an aging power forward whose body was likely to deteriorate quickly and early in his 30's given his style of play's effect on his endurance throughout his career, and Calgary ignored those facts, giving him a contract with a decently high AAV and a long term commitment. Neal regressed as expected, and found himself in and out of the lineup in Calgary. It's almost like they were eager to repeat the mistake they made with the Troy Brouwer signing. (who they bought out to make room for Neal) Going forward, the outlook for Neal is incredibly bleak, as he simply is not the player he was even a year ago. His physical skills have regressed heavily, and the chances he scores 25 goals again are slim. He's likely destined for LTIR as his contract gets worse and worse, but if he needs to be in the lineup, he'll need to adapt his game as David Backes in Boston did, becoming a physical, bottom-6 two-way leader instead of the goal-scoring power forward he once was. If he can do that, he can still provide value in Calgary, but at this point he's a definite negative-value asset.
Well that was a mistake. After a strong but not overwhelmingly impressive season in Vegas, James Neal was rewarded with a MASSIVE contract to be the missing piece on the Gaudreau first line. Instead of fitting in on that top line, Elias Lindholm took his spot and Neal had the worst season of his career. He was an aging power forward whose body was likely to deteriorate quickly and early in his 30's given his style of play's effect on his endurance throughout his career, and Calgary ignored those facts, giving him a contract with a decently high AAV and a long term commitment. Neal regressed as expected, and found himself in and out of the lineup in Calgary. It's almost like they were eager to repeat the mistake they made with the Troy Brouwer signing. (who they bought out to make room for Neal) Going forward, the outlook for Neal is incredibly bleak, as he simply is not the player he was even a year ago. His physical skills have regressed heavily, and the chances he scores 25 goals again are slim. He's likely destined for LTIR as his contract gets worse and worse, but if he needs to be in the lineup, he'll need to adapt his game as David Backes in Boston did, becoming a physical, bottom-6 two-way leader instead of the goal-scoring power forward he once was. If he can do that, he can still provide value in Calgary, but at this point he's a definite negative-value asset.
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