Oiler fans have a habit of hating players who make to much money. Yes Lucic is overpaid, quite abit. But so was Neal.
If Lucic was at $2.5mil/yr alot of team would have wanted him, so he's not as bad as Oiler fans say.
Also Edm and Calgary are not the only teams with over paid players, probably every team has a few.

I think Lucic will help Calgary.
Lucic had a hard time getting a fight because almost no one would fight him, not because he wouldn't. Lucic is still feared, and can still intimidate.

He will make Tkackuk have more freedom and that is gonna really suck for opposing teams

Didn't Neal also battle injuries last season? Neal could very well pop off next season.

Dream on- there's no way that Neal can skate with Edmonton's top line. He'd be at center ice while the rest of the line was in the zone setting up.
He'll get PP time, and if he stands in front then he'll score a few, but he never went to the front of the net in Calgary so unless that was by design/ coaching decision it's tough to think that he'll suddenly attack the blue paint now. If they tell him to go to a spot and rip one-timers while they feed him passes then it might work, though.
Hopefully Lucic, who is no speed demon his ownself, plays like he gives a damn because Neal sure didn't. Even if he's a bust on the scoresheet, as long as he gives some hustle and effort and has his teammates' backs in a scuffle then he'll be twice as useful as Neal ever was.

I could see the conditional pick coming into play, but I do like that Johnny can be a bit more confident that he won't end the season with broken wrists by the end of the year, from opposing players taking whacks at them. Neal sure wasn't scaring anyone off.
- MABster

Thats what they said about Maroon, and then he went on to have a career year.
Thats what they said about Chassion, and then he went on to have a career year.
Both these guys were under 20 goals career high, Chassion went from 13 to 22. Maroon went from a whopping 11 to 27 and we were ripped apart for trading for him because his so called lack of speed. Lets see what a former 40 and 30 goal scorer can do. Dudes training with Connor and Roberts as we speak. Get fleeced.

Win win for all sides...lucic cant skate back or forward and hasn't been a defensive player in years...he hits guys by getting in their way and most times is called for interference....never fights anymore as he seems disinterested esp when he is playing against his friends on other teams...kassian,nurse,kharia became physical deterent in Edmonton for two years now as lucic sat back...Neal seemed to want more ice time, don't mind a player being upset being on the third line unlike lucic who embraced it...Neal seemed to always score at least 20 plus(31/80 games played avg) untill he got to Calgary...hmm one year and written off...lucic has been bad for 2.5 years and getting worse...ohh and Neal and mcdavid have been training and skating together developing chemistry...looks like we might owe you that third rounder after all...
- oil90

Well said my dude. Neals only bad year in his career comes off the heels of two deep stanley cup runs as well. He admitted himself he didn't prepare anywhere near good enough for the season. McD and Roberts will change that real quick. If Maroon can do it, why cant the Real Deal.

Easy to make statements like that when you dont know the story.

My nephew volunteered at the Flames celebrity golf tourney last September. When he saw Neal he asked, are you going to score 30 goals with Johnny? Neal just said 40, with a big smile. His expectations were he was going to play RW on the top line & Im sure Tre told him that to get him sign as well. But it didnt take long for Lindholm to bump him down to the 2nd line with Tkachuk & Backlund. Frolik got sent to the 4th line, which generated a sh!t show from Frolik's agent.
As the year progressed & Neal did nothing he was obviously frustrated & capped off at him being frustrated & his relationship with Peter's to go toxic. He had to go.

So the joker GM got rid of a "must move" player/contract without having to add assets but actually gained $500K in cap space & addressed a huge need we have been whining about missing for a few years. We'll worry about the expansion draft in two years. But our expectations for Lucic will be very achievable by Lucic & I can guarantee you there would be no way Neal would be coming anywhere close to meeting his expectation in a Flames uniform. We did not win the Western Conference last year because of anything Neal did, we won it despite what Neal did last year.
-Kevin R

You are sugar coating it. Neal had plenty of top line time and played like poop. His poor play moved him down and Lindholm ran away with it after getting moved up. Good players can produce anywhere in the lineup. Neal did not produce anywhere.

Thats what they said about Maroon, and then he went on to have a career year.
Thats what they said about Chassion, and then he went on to have a career year.
Both these guys were under 20 goals career high, Chassion went from 13 to 22. Maroon went from a whopping 11 to 27 and we were ripped apart for trading for him because his so called lack of speed. Lets see what a former 40 and 30 goal scorer can do. Dudes training with Connor and Roberts as we speak. Get fleeced.
- Leichs

30-40 goals? Who are you speaking of? Neal is a former 20 goal scorer, not a 40 goal guy.

30-40 goals? Who are you speaking of? Neal is a former 20 goal scorer, not a 40 goal guy.
- TandA4Flames

He has scored anywhere from 21 to 41 goals in his career...do some research and rise above the hate...

He has scored anywhere from 21 to 41 goals in his career...do some research and rise above the hate...
- oil90

OK sport. So why cant the narrative go that Neal will rebound & score 30 with McDavid & Lucic is going to pound the pi$$ out of idiots that have been taking liberties with our skilled guys like Gaudreau & allow Tkachuk to be a little more of a pest & this trade is a win win for both teams. Alberta has been getting bent over by the Liberal feds so much, maybe some solutions come from within.

I know, you just arent evolved enough to embrace that scenario.

He has scored anywhere from 21 to 41 goals in his career...do some research and rise above the hate...
- oil90

He's scored anywhere from 7 to 41 goals in his career. Might wanna revise that research to include the most recent set of data.

But hey, if your oilers team wants to roll out a guy on the first line that most recently was a healthy scratch in the playoffs: go for it

Tippett and Peters are fairly similar coaches who demand effort and players who contribute in all three zones. Tippett will be losing his mind by Thanksgiving watching Neal screw the pooch out there. Will be interesting.

He's scored anywhere from 7 to 41 goals in his career. Might wanna revise that research to include the most recent set of data.

But hey, if your oilers team wants to roll out a guy on the first line that most recently was a healthy scratch in the playoffs: go for it
- fry

"bUt hE's TrAINiNg wItH rObERtS aNd McDaViD"

Any oiler fan who thinks Neal is going to come in to a losing culture, when he couldn't come close to hacking it with a winning culture and winning team (minus the playoffs where they didn't have an answer for Mackinnon, Rantanen, Compher and Co) and be a difference maker, is smoking the hard stuff.

"bUt hE's TrAINiNg wItH rObERtS aNd McDaViD"

Any oiler fan who thinks Neal is going to come in to a losing culture, when he couldn't come close to hacking it with a winning culture and winning team (minus the playoffs where they didn't have an answer for Mackinnon, Rantanen, Compher and Co) and be a difference maker, is smoking the hard stuff.
- Emcee27

Bet you cant wait for school to start again...grade 8 ?

Bet you cant wait for school to start again...grade 8 ?
- oilpatch

Someone sounds triggered. I think it's nap time for you little muffin, let the adults here talk hockey.

Dream on- there's no way that Neal can skate with Edmonton's top line. He'd be at center ice while the rest of the line was in the zone setting up.
He'll get PP time, and if he stands in front then he'll score a few, but he never went to the front of the net in Calgary so unless that was by design/ coaching decision it's tough to think that he'll suddenly attack the blue paint now. If they tell him to go to a spot and rip one-timers while they feed him passes then it might work, though.
Hopefully Lucic, who is no speed demon his ownself, plays like he gives a damn because Neal sure didn't. Even if he's a bust on the scoresheet, as long as he gives some hustle and effort and has his teammates' backs in a scuffle then he'll be twice as useful as Neal ever was.

I could see the conditional pick coming into play, but I do like that Johnny can be a bit more confident that he won't end the season with broken wrists by the end of the year, from opposing players taking whacks at them. Neal sure wasn't scaring anyone off.
- MABster

To be fair, nobody can skate on Eds top line other than McD. They have the worst wingers I have ever seen on an NHL team. So while Neal may not be a top pairing winger anymore, he may still be on this team. Last season aside, Neal had never missed a 20G campaign, and has put up 31G per 82GP since entering the league.

Bet you cant wait for school to start again...grade 8 ?
- oilpatch

Or as they say in Edm, my senior year !

I didn't realize HOW disfunctional the flames truly were...seems to make sense now why Reaves said no, stone said no, kadri said no,Smith said no and Neal feels like he hit the jackpot to go to edmonton...a coach who makes situations personal with players and buries talent with a reputation like Neal of toughness and scoring every year but in Calgary down the line...explains why the hurricanes took of when Peters left...I guess its possible Neal just all of a sudden wanted to ruin his career and not care in Calgary where everywhere else he was a perfect teammate...or more likely something in the water bottles in Calgary...
- oil90

Kadri?

Well said my dude. Neals only bad year in his career comes off the heels of two deep stanley cup runs as well. He admitted himself he didn't prepare anywhere near good enough for the season. McD and Roberts will change that real quick. If Maroon can do it, why cant the Real Deal.
- Leichs

The fact you agree with this guy AND actually pay for this site essentially eliminates any credibility you (may) have had.

Most Flames fans hate this deal but it is what it is. Two 31 yr olds with the worst contracts in hockey, coming off the worst years of their careers with their respective (former teams). IF Neal can regain ANY of his glory from the previous few years, this will be a good trade for the Oilers. If Lucic can somehow manage to find his game then the opposite is true. Crap shoot!

Will going to Robert's training facility help Neal's game? Maybe, at least he'll do well when physicals occur at training camp.
Both teams say the same thing, a change of scenery will hopefully help both guys. Meh, no going back now so fingers crossed its a win-win...

Or as they say in Edm, my senior year !
- tincup

Bet you cant wait for school to start again...grade 8 ?
- oilpatch

Didn't Neal also battle injuries last season? Neal could very well pop off next season.
- poisondhearts37

That was part of the puzzle. Got dinged up early. Player on the other side of 30 that played lots of hard minutes en route to the final the year before. New team, new systems. There's lots of free agents that don't light the world on fire their first year on a new team. It wasn't long ago that Neal was widely considered the best player that Vegas got out of the draft.

Two 31 yr olds with the worst contracts in hockey, coming off the worst years of their careers with their respective (former teams).
- geta02it

You forgot about Brent Seabrook.

"bUt hE's TrAINiNg wItH rObERtS aNd McDaViD"

Any oiler fan who thinks Neal is going to come in to a losing culture, when he couldn't come close to hacking it with a winning culture and winning team (minus the playoffs where they didn't have an answer for Mackinnon, Rantanen, Compher and Co) and be a difference maker, is smoking the hard stuff.
- Emcee27

Thx Todd. First off reg season Flames smoked Av's. To the point Big Mac almost crying on the bench. By the time playoff's came Flames dressing room was toxic. IMO, a pro knowing they were say not at their best should stfu. You could see even before the game even started, nobody was even slightly happy. Neal can work all he wants with Roberts HE WILL NEVER KEEP UP thx

Thx Todd. First off reg season Flames smoked Av's. To the point Big Mac almost crying on the bench. By the time playoff's came Flames dressing room was toxic. IMO, a pro knowing they were say not at their best should stfu. You could see even before the game even started, nobody was even slightly happy. Neal can work all he wants with Roberts HE WILL NEVER KEEP UP thx
- cnknut

Thx Todd. First off reg season Flames smoked Av's. To the point Big Mac almost crying on the bench. By the time playoff's came Flames dressing room was toxic. IMO, a pro knowing they were say not at their best should stfu. You could see even before the game even started, nobody was even slightly happy. Neal can work all he wants with Roberts HE WILL NEVER KEEP UP thx
- cnknut

This is Calgary education system at its finest

This is Calgary education system at its finest
- oilpatch

as opposed to Edmonton's fine education system that produced oil90????