Forward James Neal signs five-year deal with Calgary Flames

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames have added a much-needed sniper to their lineup while cementing their top-six forward core, signing proven scorer James Neal on Monday.

The deal is worth $28.75 million US over five years with an annual average salary of $5.75 million.

Neal is coming off a run to the Stanley Cup final with the Vegas Golden Knights, putting up 25 goals and 44 points in 71 regular-season games before adding six goals and 11 points in 20 post-season games.

The 30-year-old winger, a Whitby, Ont., native, has 263 goals and 495 points in 703 career games.

Calgary wasn’t done with the Neal signing, announcing later in the day that the club inked depth forward Buddy Robinson to a twoyear, two-way contract that pays $700,000 annually if he sticks on the Flames roster and $325,000 if sent down to their American Hockey league affiliate the Stockton Heat.

Neal can either slide right into Calgary’s top line alongside Johnny Gaudreau and centre Sean Monahan or play second line with centre Mikael Backlund and Matthew Tkachuk. Flames coach Bill Peters will have some options with recently acquired winger Elias Lindholm being the other option on one of those two lines.

Calgary missed the playoffs last year for the seventh time in nine seasons.

The Flames will be Neal’s fifth team.