Washed up over paid player traded for a washed up overpaid player. Only thing is Neal is less washed up and cheaper.

At least Lucic plays with passion, physicality and had better stats than Neal. Plus his cap hit is now 5.250 mill. Neal just plain sucks, no motivation, slow, didn’t seem to care, was scratched in the playoffs, now cost more, no physical presence and worse stats. Plus we get a conditional pick. Oiler fans of course will claim they won the trade despite either of these players playing a single game, big surprise!

At least Lucic plays with passion, physicality and had better stats than Neal. Plus his cap hit is now 5.250 mill. Neal just plain sucks, no motivation, slow, didn’t seem to care, was scratched in the playoffs, now cost more, no physical presence and worse stats. Plus we get a conditional pick. Oiler fans of course will claim they won the trade despite either of these players playing a single game, big surprise!
- trevy

Spin it what you want, you have to protect Lucic and he’s buyout proof. Edmonton wins this.

Spin it what you want, you have to protect Lucic and he’s buyout proof. Edmonton wins this.
- RafiDRW

Why would we want to buy him out if he plays a role on a winning team. Maybe you should read his interview on how excited he is to leave the losing culture in Edm

Why would we want to buy him out if he plays a role on a winning team.
- trevy

Until playoffs start and he only plays an extra 5(?) games

Why would we want to buy him out if he plays a role on a winning team. Maybe you should read his interview on how excited he is to leave the losing culture in Edm
- trevy

Expansion draft is the big one here. Holland made a smart move.

Spin it what you want, you have to protect Lucic and he’s buyout proof. Edmonton wins this.
- RafiDRW

But didn't he just waive his NTC? So now he doesn't need to be protected for future trades. Or does he need to waive each time?

But didn't he just waive his NTC? So now he doesn't need to be protected for future trades. Or does he need to waive each time?
- TycoRC

Yes he does. Or so it has been reported.

Correct.

Buying out Neal would cost the Oil just shy of 2 mill per over 8 years.

Buying out Lucic would cost... well it’s (frank)ing near unspeakable.

And then there is the Seattle possibility.
- Wildschwein

Huh????
So you guys are going to buyout Neal & carry his cap hit for the next 8 years???

Neal loves his new teeth & plays that way to preserve them.
We wouldnt buyout Lucic until just before the expansion draft, not now. We just gained $500K cap space so we are ahead in cap than we were yesterday. Neal wont be able to keep up to McDavid, he couldnt keep up to Monahan & Monahan isnt a speed demon. Lucic would have gone after Zadorov the last playoffs. We had no answer to the E Kane's, Reaves, now Ferland in Vanc & we had no answer when Lucic went after Smith last year. Now we do. Should have got more than a 3rd but whatever.

For those that asked why did Flames do it, watch the pregame skate in game 4 in Colorado & the blowup between Peters & Neal, game 5 he was scratched. That was the end for Neal & I doubt ownership would authorize a buyout after 1 year. Not much value & at least we got a 3rd & some salary cap instead of having to add to get rid of Neal. Other GM's knew it no different than they knew Holland was in a corner with Lucic. Other Gm's throw boat anchors not life preservers. If our guys play a little taller with Lucic in the lineup, its a win & more than what Neal gave us.

Moral of this story is that Treliving should never answer the phone on July 1st's ever again. These UFA signings are just venom.

Neal is old and broken. What are you people thinking the he keeps up with mcd?

Lol @ komisally

Wtf.

Who cares about the expansion draft. Oilers don't have 3 forwards worth protecting, let slone 7.

Still @ lol'ing at komisally

Edmonton

Do people actually think Neal is going to have another season of shooting 5%.

Edmonton

Do people actually think Neal is going to have another season of shooting 5%.


- classic321

No. But i heard he's training with tanev to focus on injury prevention and working with eriksson on the best techniques for a bounce back season.

No. But i heard he's training with tanev to focus on injury prevention and working with eriksson on the best techniques for a bounce back season.
- Tumbleweed

He should ask Matthews for injury prevention advice while he is at it.

He should ask Matthews for injury prevention advice while he is at it.
- classic321

Well, that would be stupid. Matthews is injured a lot.




The only thing dumber would be taking advice from boeser or petterson on how to prevent injuries.

Well, that would be stupid. Matthews is injured a lot.




The only thing dumber would be taking advice from boeser or petterson on how to prevent injuries.
- Tumbleweed

or asking Dudas for tips on negotiating contracts.

Wtf.

Who cares about the expansion draft. Oilers don't have 3 forwards worth protecting, let slone 7.

Still @ lol'ing at komisally
- Tumbleweed

They might have 4 Dmen though. And Calgary has a lot more forwards

Oilers are paying 6.35M for James Neal and they are the big winners apparently


Both guys suck...Lucic will be more useful as a 3rd/4th liner on the Flames than Neal pouting

both guys had negative value

Calgary was 2nd overall with Neal doing F all...its not like they are gonna miss him

Washed up over paid player traded for a washed up overpaid player. Only thing is Neal is less washed up and cheaper.
- BernardShakey

Is this fox news?

FLAMES SAVE CAP SPACE IN THIS DEAL

One more

Oilers fans are bragging that they are so bad Neal (coming off a 7 goal season) will be penciled in to their top 2 lines.

Neal will score more in Edmonton likely...because they are terrible


Neal was a healthy scratch for the Flames

Haha Kypreos is garbage! What happened to your cheap sources EK!?!

Oilers are happy flames fans are happy with lucic trade...thank you,thank you, thank you for this trade...how Holland can give interviews how both teams made out great is even greater performance than executing this trade itself...Holland gm of the year already...seriously just give him the freaking award already...lucic contract was the most immovable contract...even khl teams knew this...hahaha

One more

Oilers fans are bragging that they are so bad Neal (coming off a 7 goal season) will be penciled in to their top 2 lines.

Neal will score more in Edmonton likely...because they are terrible


Neal was a healthy scratch for the Flames
- flashfire

Cause your coach made things personal rather than thinking for the good of the club...result is first round KNOCKOUT...

Neal is old and broken. What are you people thinking the he keeps up with mcd?

Lol @ komisally
- Tumbleweed

If you've seen Patrick Maroon skate and recall how he did with McDavid, you know there's no speed requirement to play with McDavid. All he needs is to know where to go to score goals, when to be there and have hands capable of finishing plays. If he can do that, we're doing fine. If he can't, buy him out and pay less than half of Lucic's hit (2.7) for 3 years and 1.8 for 3 more.

They are still both in their early 30s. No reason to expect them to be done. They should be capable of at least 50 points
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

What year is it again?