Neal agrees to $28.75M deal with Flames
Veteran winger James Neal has agreed to a five-year contract with the Calgary Flames that averages $5.75 million annually, according to multiple reports.
Neal, 30, was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights from the Nashville Predators in the expansion draft and scored 44 points during the 20171-8 regular-season. He was an instrumental piece in Vegas' run to the Stanley Cup Finals, scoring six goals and contributing five assists in 20 playoff games, but became a free agent after finishing a five-year, $30 million contract.
Golden Knights general manager George McPhee said on Sunday that the team was still in discussions with Neal, who reportedly turned down a five-year, $25 million extension offer by Vegas during the season.
Neal, who has lost in the finals in consecutive seasons, has scored at least 20 goals in his of his 10 NHL seasons. He joins David Perron (St. Louis Blues) as left wingers who have departed Vegas this offseason.
In Calgary, Neal joins fellow newcomer forward Derek Ryan, who signed a three-year deal that averages $3.125 million annually. The Flames have also signed forward Austin Czarnik on Sunday and re-signed defenseman Dalton Prout.
Calgary has a new coach in Bill Peters and traded Dougie Hamilton, Micheal Ferland and Adam Fox to Carolina for Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm.
Only Vancouver, Detroit, Montreal, Arizona and Buffalo scored fewer than the 218 goals Calgary managed last season.
--Field Level Media
