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For months we wondered if James Neal would be traded, and which albatross contract would be coming back if and when the Calgary Flames elected to pull the trigger.
Well, we have our answer.
The Flames recently sent James Neal and his $5.75 million ticket to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Milan Lucic and 87.5% of his contract, which works out to be $5.25 million annually.
Some think the trade was a good idea. Some don't. (
I outlined my thoughts in detail here.) That doesn't matter much at this point. What matters now is how the Flames go about using Lucic.
Dean Molberg of Sportsnet 960 seems to have an idea.
I have no doubt the Flames will experiment with Lucic in different bottom-6 roles. They should, especially in preseason. But I can't help but think that line is not the answer.
Lucic's offensive ability has declined to an almost unbelievable extent. He has mustered up just 1.15 points per 60 over the last two seasons. Jay Beagle averaged 1.19 in that span. Ryan Reaves averaged 1.16. Yes, it's that bad.
Lucic won't produce much of anything, and what he does provide is almost entirely dependent on others. He's not going to create for himself.
I think putting another dependent and inconsistent offensive player – although, to a much lesser extent – in Sam Bennett on the opposite wing is a recipe for disaster offensively. I mean, the latter hasn't hit 30 points since 2015-16. I just don't see enough pop for them to be a successful 3rd line.
If the Flames are going to shift Bennett to right wing in order for someone else to play 3LW, it should be Andrew Mangiapane taking that spot. Not Lucic.
Mangiapane was vastly better at producing points (1.79 per 60 for AM, .97 per 60 for ML) and generating chances (8.97 for AM, 6.10 for ML) a season ago. All the evidence points towards giving more opportunity to Mangiapane, and less to Lucic.
The value in the latter, at least at this point, is shot/chance suppression and physicality. Those are traits of you often find on the 4th line and I don't think this should be an exception.
numbers via naturalstattrick.com and capfriendly.com
Recent posts:
On the Milan Lucic trade
On Sam Bennett and his next contract
Five Flames who could become cap casualties
Potential landing spots for T.J. Brodie
Flames lose out in Micheal Ferland sweepstakes
On the Nazem Kadri trade that never was
Reviewing the Flames' 2019 draft class
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