Veteran Neal signs with Flames
CALGARY — The Calgary Flames have added a much-needed sniper to their lineup, signing proven scorer James Neal, 30, on Monday.
The deal is worth US$28.75 million 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 Las 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 contests.
The rugged six-foot-two, 220 pound winger has reached the 20-goal mark in each of his 10 National Hockey League seasons and produced a career-high 40 goals in 2011-12. He 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 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 of Stockton, Calif.
Neal can 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 in large part due to its lack of scoring. The Flames were 27th in goals scored and struggled heavily on the power play, finishing 29th.
Neal, who will turn 31 in September, adds some post-season experience to a team in need of it.