Didn't Neal go through a contentious contract negotiation with Dallas over his current deal? He does seem like a good guy and I'm sure he enjoys playing here but hoping for anything less than $5 million per year if he comes close to reaching current projections is futile. That dude is getting paid big time. Frankly, he would have this franchise over a barrel given our dearth of wing talent for years and the lack of any real competition in the pipeline. Unless he cools off significantly (which could happen), I would consider anything less than $5.5m/year a gift.
At this point he would really have to cool off to not get 40 but that's possible. I'm not wishing for it.
I wouldn't call it cool off a lot if he ends up with 40, I mean that's still like a 35 goals pace from now on.
That said, if I would have to bet, I'd say 35-40 goals in the end, but I woulnd't be suprised if it's closer to 35, there will be the occasional goal less spell 3, 4, 5 games or even more.
What are you peoples thoughts on GM's understanding that part of the production is playing with Geno on a top line in the league? I one sense it shows he can be part of that line, but you remove Geno and I think Neals production (assists especially) tapers off.
Also for Neal and agent, you found something that is working great. Lets assume he likes DB and the Org (we always hear players like the approach of the Org top to bottom) and the city. Playing on this team, this or other lines, he could be looking at a HOF career. No, i am not saying neal is a HOF'er yet. But if I were him with how this year is going....You need to consider 5-5.5 here in the burg. You win a cup or two (compete in the least). You juice your stats playing with Art Ross winners. If he chases $6.1M or something for a worse team with no Geno is it really the best move long term? How much if at all does that factor in.
All in all I think the cap goes up, we move $ off the blue line and we sign Neal for 5.25-5.5
Didn't Neal go through a contentious contract negotiation with Dallas over his current deal? He does seem like a good guy and I'm sure he enjoys playing here but hoping for anything less than $5 million per year if he comes close to reaching current projections is futile. That dude is getting paid big time. Frankly, he would have this franchise over a barrel given our dearth of wing talent for years and the lack of any real competition in the pipeline. Unless he cools off significantly (which could happen), I would consider anything less than $5.5m/year a gift.
He did. They did lowball him pretty signifcantly if I remember though, and were as stacked at wing as we are on defense, so did not seem to care. I think the contention was a two way street there though is the bottom line.
Keep in mind Neal is an RFA. Bobby Ryan is the comparable if he gets ~35 goals and goes to arbitration. $5 million with term would be fair; $4 million or less is a steal.
I wonder if someone is gonna throw a ridiculous offer sheet at him that the penguins will be reluctant to match. I sure hope Shero gets a deal done before it gets to that point.
I wonder if someone is gonna throw a ridiculous offer sheet at him that the penguins will be reluctant to match. I sure hope Shero gets a deal done before it gets to that point.
People say this all the time, but how many times has this actually happened? Kevin Lowe did it with Vanek and maybe one other player I can't think of and Bobby Clarke did it with Kesler. Other than that I honestly can't think of one other instance, and you can kind of ignore Lowe doing it because he was an idiot GM.
GMs don't do it because they know the other team will probably fire back and try to take one of their own players so the result is no one does anything. It's like two huge aircraft carriers floating at sea a half mile apart from each other. Sure one of them could go after the other and do some damage but they know if they do they're going to get slammed right back. It just ends up being a stalemate and that's why this stuff almost never goes on and IMO why people need to just stop saying it.
Keep in mind Neal is an RFA. Bobby Ryan is the comparable if he gets ~35 goals and goes to arbitration. $5 million with term would be fair; $4 million or less is a steal.
Ryan was also a 3 time 30 goal-scorer. I'm sure that weighs into it.
I wouldn't call it cool off a lot if he ends up with 40, I mean that's still like a 35 goals pace from now on.
That said, if I would have to bet, I'd say 35-40 goals in the end, but I woulnd't be suprised if it's closer to 35, there will be the occasional goal less spell 3, 4, 5 games or even more.
Neal has already put up 20 in the first half of the season. If he can do the same in the latter half, that's amazing consistency. Even if he can't do that, he's made some decent passing plays when he hasn't scored.
I think Neal is a lock for 35/35 type production. Especially with Geno finding his goal scoring.
Grabner scored 34 goals last year and only got 3M per on a 5 year deal. He doesn't have the rep of a 3 time previous 20 goal scorer though. I'm hoping for 4.8-5.2 per on a 5 year deal.
Grabner scored 34 goals last year and only got 3M per on a 5 year deal. He doesn't have the rep of a 3 time previous 20 goal scorer though. I'm hoping for 4.8-5.2 per on a 5 year deal.
Grabner was also a waiver pickup too. Not really a comparable.
Yeah, if Neal has proven anything, it's that he's a perennial threat to score goals. Anything under 5, I'd be happy with. 6 years, maybe 4.75 per, NTC the last half of the deal?
Yeah, if Neal has proven anything, it's that he's a perennial threat to score goals. Anything under 5, I'd be happy with. 6 years, maybe 4.75 per, NTC the last half of the deal?
I'll be extremely happy if Shero can get him under 5, but I think 5 or a little bit above is what it's going to take.
I'll be extremely happy if Shero can get him under 5, but I think 5 or a little bit above is what it's going to take.
You have to give and take here. I think Neal knows his situation, and ours. This is where he needs to be. Riding sidekick to two elite players, having a chance to win every single year, playing for a first rate organization, in a first class facility. Like I said, if I were Shero, if Neal takes under 5, I'll also allow him to determine his fate for the last 3 years of his deal.
Just a straight deal though, if he wants over 5 mil, I'd give him 5 years, and no NTC.
You have to give and take here. I think Neal knows his situation, and ours. This is where he needs to be. Riding sidekick to two elite players, having a chance to win every single year, playing for a first rate organization, in a first class facility. Like I said, if I were Shero, if Neal takes under 5, I'll also allow him to determine his fate for the last 3 years of his deal.
Just a straight deal though, if he wants over 5 mil, I'd give him 5 years, and no NTC.
I doubt he'll be north of 5m to be honest. That falls in the top-tier of the league of talent and skill. I think it is realistic to expect that it will be south of that time. Likewise, I cannot see anything less than 4.5m either.
