James Neal shares his thoughts on the trade between the Oilers & Flames.

James Neal has never been known as one of the nice guys in the National Hockey League and you have to imagine that there are a lot of things about this deal that have rubbed him the wrong way. This week the long time NHL goal scorer was traded for veteran forward Milan Lucic of the Edmonton Oilers, a move that signaled the fact that the Calgary Flames had well and truly seen enough out of him. 

It was a shocking deal on many levels and as a result of the deal itself as well as the rivalry between the Flames and the Oilers, the two teams involved in the deal, this one will no doubt be talked about all season as the two men are compared to one another. For Neal though it will also mean a chance to bounce back from a career low in the 2018 - 2019 NHL regular season, a chance to prove to the Calgary Flames that that they were wrong for giving up on him. 

“It was tough, for sure,” Neal said as per Sportsnet. “You want to do well (after signing a UFA deal in Calgary), but coming off back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, trying to train and get ready for the season, it’s not the same. For me, having this summer, being able to regroup, recharge, and let your mind rest then come back focused and reset, it goes a long ways.”

There are many though who do not believe that Neal will bounce back, and many who believe that at 31 years of age the 2018 - 2019 season was a sign of where Neal is in his career and not a blip on the radar. Neal acknowledged that he had a poor season but was quick to add that he intends to be involved in those big game moments as an Oiler, something he was denied while riding the bench for the Calgary Flames.

“Everyone has a tough year,” Neal said. “I’m a goal scorer, I demand the best out of myself and my teammates. I want to win.

“Sitting on the bench (in Calgary) and not being able to help the team score goals and win … it was tough. I’ll be in those situations this year,” he said. “With the way the changes have gone in Edmonton, with Dave Tippett coming in … and Ken Holland, it’s exciting times. I’m proud to be an Oiler.”

The Flames and Oilers will be facing off again next season in the Battle of Alberta, and you can bet that it will be a date in which both fans and Neal himself will have circled on their calendars.