You can be a Richard all you want, I’m not going to go cry because we have different opinions. What I do take offense to is when I present facts, things that are true and can’t be denied and am told that it’s somehow not realistic. Lots of high end players take dips in production and recover. Some don’t. James Neal has never been fast yet he’s always been productive. This is his only season and it happened when he changed teams. They had a spot for him to fill and it didn’t work out. Outside of this season where he couldn’t fill that spot, what other evidence exists that he won’t succeed within a different franchises top 6?

Next you’re going to tell me that Maatta is fast...?
- WSCTeton17

FACTS?!?! What facts are you giving me? I showed you facts and you completely disregarded them.

Neal is 31, signed at $5.75M for another four years, is declining aside from a couple of good seasons has been an incredibly inconsistent player for his entire career. He's a one-dimensional player who when he doesn't score doesn't do anything.

Players people complain/complained about because of their inconsistencies in scoring:

-Connor Sheary
-Bryan Rust
-Dominik Simon

These are all players who actually have similar or in some instances, better advanced metrics than James Neal. They also cost less and are more dynamic than Neal, yet people regularly complain/complained about them.

So what now? Let's trade a bad player making $3.25M for a declining one-dimensional player making $5.75M for the next four years?

No thank you on Neal.

FACTS?!?! What facts are you giving me? I showed you facts and you completely disregarded them.

Neal is 31, signed at $5.75M for another four years, is declining aside from a couple of good seasons has been an incredibly inconsistent player for his entire career. He's a one-dimensional player who when he doesn't score doesn't do anything.
- Rinosaur

But would you trade Jacko’s contract + Gudbranson’s 4M/year contract for Neal and a prospect or pick?

Players people complain/complained about because of their inconsistencies in scoring:

-Connor Sheary
-Bryan Rust
-Dominik Simon

These are all players who actually have similar or in some instances, better advanced metrics than James Neal. They also cost less and are more dynamic than Neal, yet people regularly complain/complained about them.

So what now? Let's trade a bad player making $3.25M for a declining one-dimensional player making $5.75M for the next four years?

No thank you on Neal.
- Rinosaur

You haven’t admit that you were wrong about Neal. You said he had one 40 goal season in Pitt. Fact: he had a pace of 40 goals per 82 games for his full seasons in Pitt. Who else scored at that rate playing with crosby and malkin? Ok that was a long time ago. He scored at a 29 goal pace in Nashville AND Vegas with lesser centers. He shot way below his career shooting average this season. Those are all facts.

The whole point of looking at advanced stats is to see if something is sustainable. So Neal has shown every season except this last one that he drives play and he scores. So he was a proven commodity until this last year? Guess what. There’s no such thing! There is no guarantee that X player will produce at a certain rate when joining a new team. Your other post said you want a guarantee. It doesn’t exist

But would you trade Jacko’s contract + Gudbranson’s 4M/year contract for Neal and a prospect or pick?
- Barnaby36

Calgary wouldn’t do it is the problem. We just recently saw Nieds go for Rask. Rask has completely fallen off. There are teams who will take Neal even if we won’t. Look at Nashville’s PP. Heck, wouldn’t surprise me if they let Simmonds and Boyle walk and bring Neal back for very little. Tell me why they wouldn’t

Saying that Neal is useless and will never recover from ONE down year is like saying that Max Domi is going to continue to put up 70+ points moving forward. Neal shot way below his average, Domi shot way below his average. Isn’t it more likely that both players will revert back to their averages especially if conditions are changed to their liking? Isn’t that what we’ve learned from the NHL using stats? You don’t reward based off one season of being amazing, so why crucify someone for ONE season of not producing when every other season says otherwise

You haven’t admit that you were wrong about Neal. You said he had one 40 goal season in Pitt. Fact: he had a pace of 40 goals per 82 games for his full seasons in Pitt. Who else scored at that rate playing with crosby and malkin? Ok that was a long time ago. He scored at a 29 goal pace in Nashville AND Vegas with lesser centers. He shot way below his career shooting average this season. Those are all facts.

The whole point of looking at advanced stats is to see if something is sustainable. So Neal has shown every season except this last one that he drives play and he scores. So he was a proven commodity until this last year? Guess what. There’s no such thing! There is no guarantee that X player will produce at a certain rate when joining a new team. Your other post said you want a guarantee. It doesn’t exist
- WSCTeton17

I'm not wrong about Neal. I honestly don't give a poop about pace. Neal's history shows he always gets "on pace" for lots of goals then completely shuts off because he's inconsistent.

Look how he was in Vegas. He was a storm to open the season then barely scored in the second half.

His advanced stats are OK. They're honestly average and my point is we have players who have similar stats and cost little money, yet people complain about their inconsistencies. Now, we're going to take on a player at $5.75M on the decline to do the same? No.

At this point you just want me to agree with you are I'm wrong, so I'm done here. It's not going to happen anyway.

But would you trade Jacko’s contract + Gudbranson’s 4M/year contract for Neal and a prospect or pick?
- Barnaby36

I'm listening at that point, but this is such an extreme example that as a 0.0% chance of happening. There's no way that CGY, who has a pretty stacked back end and they're going to add to guys who are around $4M?

I hate JJ and want him gone, but I'm still for making moves that make sense.

I'm not wrong about Neal. I honestly don't give a poop about pace. Neal's history shows he always gets "on pace" for lots of goals then completely shuts off because he's inconsistent.

Look how he was in Vegas. He was a storm to open the season then barely scored in the second half.

His advanced stats are OK. They're honestly average and my point is we have players who have similar stats and cost little money, yet people complain about their inconsistencies. Now, we're going to take on a player at $5.75M on the decline to do the same? No.

At this point you just want me to agree with you are I'm wrong, so I'm done here. It's not going to happen anyway.
- Rinosaur

Well, I mean, how can you be right about how a player will play in the future? You’re saying they have similar stats based off one season. If this were the case we never should’ve taken on Hagelin or Perron and why did we give up so much for Phil? His production dropped down to 61 points. Why was he all of a sudden worth so much? Isn’t Phil also a player lacking a dynamic? Isn’t he a streaky player? He sure doesn’t play D or hit or kill penalties. People were mad at Phil being a point per game player, if he never improved from 61 points or continue to regress of course we wouldn’t be happy. You don’t trade for players thinking they’ll play bad. You do it because you think they’ll do well. I will be shocked if there are no takers for Neal this offseason

Well, I mean, how can you be right about how a player will play in the future? You’re saying they have similar stats based off one season. If this were the case we never should’ve taken on Hagelin or Perron and why did we give up so much for Phil? His production dropped down to 61 points. Why was he all of a sudden worth so much? Isn’t Phil also a player lacking a dynamic? Isn’t he a streaky player? He sure doesn’t play D or hit or kill penalties. People were mad at Phil being a point per game player, if he never improved from 61 points or continue to regress of course we wouldn’t be happy. You don’t trade for players thinking they’ll play bad. You do it because you think they’ll do well. I will be shocked if there are no takers for Neal this offseason
- WSCTeton17

LOL I'm done here.

I think Pens need a change. Reading more and more into JRs comments about people feeling too comfortable, I wonder who he moves this offseason. He has mentioned that previously and was targeting Rust with his new contract. I wonder if he moves him out. I hope he doesnt try to make this team older and slower

I think Pens need a change. Reading more and more into JRs comments about people feeling too comfortable, I wonder who he moves this offseason. He has mentioned that previously and was targeting Rust with his new contract. I wonder if he moves him out. I hope he doesnt try to make this team older and slower
- 123Kid

I do think Rust didn’t produce for most of the year. He could be a trade chip but hope he gets better and stays with the team.