I know basic math can be tough, but 8 goals and 20 points is more than 7 goals and 19 points. Lucic is also in the lineup for everything else he brings besides scoring. Neal is only in the lineup for scoring, which he did for 2 weeks to start the year. But I guess to be fair to Neal, the fact that he can't stay healthy does benefit the team stuck with him.

Calgary has no reason to buy out Lucic, but if they were both bought out, Lucic probably gets another deal. No one is even calling Neal.

Just curious, have any of the Oilers fans actually watched the team play in the past five months?
- Hunkulese

You're spending an inordinate amount of time trying to make this out to be a win for the Flames when it's quite clearly not. Most people will agree that each team gained something they preferred from the trade and that the win skews in Edmonton's favour if the Neal buyout enables them to add a real top-6 winger. If they don't use the buyout and the associated cap space, it remains a neutral deal with perhaps a slight edge to Calgary.

I have it on good authority that House Arrest was victim one of the covid19 virus and he actually created it by accident while cooking meth. Thoughts?

You're spending an inordinate amount of time trying to make this out to be a win for the Flames when it's quite clearly not. Most people will agree that each team gained something they preferred from the trade and that the win skews in Edmonton's favour if the Neal buyout enables them to add a real top-6 winger. If they don't use the buyout and the associated cap space, it remains a neutral deal with perhaps a slight edge to Calgary.
- MaximumBone

A buyout means Neal is on the books longer than Lucic

Then there is the 3rd round pick that is...up in the air. Neal needs two more goals, how does that work if the season is never finished?

Who the (frank) knows

You're spending an inordinate amount of time trying to make this out to be a win for the Flames when it's quite clearly not. Most people will agree that each team gained something they preferred from the trade and that the win skews in Edmonton's favour if the Neal buyout enables them to add a real top-6 winger. If they don't use the buyout and the associated cap space, it remains a neutral deal with perhaps a slight edge to Calgary.
- MaximumBone

You at least have some sense. I'm arguing with the idea that the trade was was a win for the Oilers in any sense other than they can pay Neal to go away. Neal had a great (lucky) October, but he's been a burden since, and definitely didn't have a massive influence on the PP like Sean said. The Oilers could have brought in Brouwer and he would have been just as effective on the PP.

Even with the most generous assessment, Lucic is making at least 3 million a year to much, but he still deserves a roster spot and outperformed Neal in every possible way compared to last year.

It's a pretty meh move when you're evaluating Holland's year. Getting to keep the extra draft pick helps, continuing to pay Lucic for the next three years sure doesn't.

A buyout means Neal is on the books longer than Lucic

Then there is the 3rd round pick that is...up in the air. Neal needs two more goals, how does that work if the season is never finished?

Who the (frank) knows
- flashfire

At a whole 1.8mil. That's 3.9mil extra that can go towards a better player than both Neal and Lucic (probably combined). Donskoi just signed for that last offseason and he's twice the player and pretty much the prime example of the right kind of bet to make in UFA.

You at least have some sense. I'm arguing with the idea that the trade was was a win for the Oilers in any sense other than they can pay Neal to go away. Neal had a great (lucky) October, but he's been a burden since, and definitely didn't have a massive influence on the PP like Sean said. The Oilers could have brought in Brouwer and he would have been just as effective on the PP.

Even with the most generous assessment, Lucic is making at least 3 million a year to much, but he still deserves a roster spot and outperformed Neal in every possible way compared to last year.

It's a pretty meh move when you're evaluating Holland's year. Getting to keep the extra draft pick helps, continuing to pay Lucic for the next three years sure doesn't.
- Hunkulese

Alright then we largely agree. I still maintain that I'd do the trade again even if it only meant not watching Lucic play hockey again. Neal has his myriad flaws but he doesn't make the game unwatchable the way Lucic did.