James Neal came to the Penguins in 2011 in a deal that brought him and defenseman Matt Niskanen to the Penguins in exchange for defenseman Alex Goligoski. The trade is often referred to as one of, if not the best, trade now ex-GM Ray Shero pulled off in his time in Pittsburgh. Neal turned into a lethal sniper, especially when paired with star center Evgeni Malkin. In 2011-12 season, he scored 40 goals and tallied 81 points. Good enough to earn him a 6-year, 30 million dollar extension midway through his breakout year.
Then the 2012 playoffs started. He posted 6 points in 5 games played v. Philadelphia. Not bad numbers but it was the other things. He was also a -3, had 12 penalty minutes and was suspended a game for his two dirty hits in 42 seconds on Flyers captain Claude Giroux and forward Sean Couturier. If this was an isolated incident, no big deal and I probably would not be writing this piece.
But it hasn't been. Neal has been suspended three times, with several other instances where he could have been suspended and was fined. This year alone he was suspended five games for kneeing Bruins forward Brad Marchand and fined 5k for cross-checking Detroit's Luke Glendening in the head. He has the reputation of a
"dirty" player now, and he deserves it.
He's not only dirty, but he is sloppy. Neal had 24 penalty minutes in 13 playoff games this season. The majority of those were taken in the offensive zone. That's a no-no. He took several during power plays. That's a no-no. He took several in the offensive zone during power plays. That's a double no-no. And what of his offensive production this playoffs? Two goals, two assists and a +2 rating overall. In 38 playoff games with the Pens, he has gone 31 without a goal. That's unacceptable for a guy earning 5 million a year and is on paper your third best scorer.
The real problem with Neal is not that he isn't scoring enough. Everyone was guilty of that during the playoffs and he put up respectable numbers this regular season. The problem with Neal is everything else. It is the fact that he has the reputation of a dirty player. It is the fact that he is selfish, and takes dumb penalties that hurt his team. It is the fact that he has become a liability, a "one-trick pony" anymore. He doesn't do the little things it takes to win. He isn't forechecking on a consistent basis. He is a total liability on defense and he got to the point where he was taken off the top power play unit as well. When he does all those things, he is an asset, but he doesn't. There is a reason his line mate calls him "Lazy."
Frankly I am done with Neal. He is doing nothing for me when it comes to the ultimate success of this team. If he is scoring, that is great; but he is very streaky and disappears when he isn't. Ultimately, my problem with him is his lazy attitude. The fact that even when he isn't scoring, he isn't doing the little things to help the team win. That's my real problem with Neal.
He is also hurting the cap game as well. He is owed 5 million a year for the next 4 years. I think that you can expect his name to be a shopped one by whoever ends up being the permanent GM of the Penguins. I know many of you would say, "Dave, you're out of your mind for wanting to trade a 40 goal scorer." I might be, but 40 regular season goals means squat to me. If he isn't scoring in April, May and June, or at least helping the team win that time of year, then what good is he?
I'd expect James Neal to be shopped this offseason and I would not be shocked to see him in a different uniform. In my roundtable the other night most of the contributors said, "It's a tough choice, but he is one dimension," "When he is hot, he's on fire. When he's cold, you can't find him on the ice." The fact is James Neal has run his course as an asset to this team on the ice. I know a lot of you are big fans of him, and it is not pleasant to read my words about him. But do me favor and ask yourself this question, Would you rather have James Neal for another 4 years of regular season success and playoff disappearances or trade him for pieces that result in a Stanley Cup? If you picked 4 more years of mediocrity, then we all will suffer the "Raw Deal."
Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Penguins.