No matter how you slice it, the Flames still need scoring help. One way to acquire scoring is through free agency, especially when the Flames are projected to have a fair bit of cap space free to use come July 1. And James Neal scored 44 points this past season, which would have tied him for fourth in Flames scoring, so let’s talk about him.
Neal has bounced around a fair bit over the course of his 10-year NHL career. Initially drafted by the Stars early in the second round, he was dealt to the Penguins alongside Matt Niskanen for Alex Goligoski in the midst of the third season of his career.