By now, every Pittsburgh Penguins fan knows the story of winger James Neal.
Neal was traded to the Penguins from the Dallas Stars last season in a deal that also brought defenseman Matt Niskanen to Pittsburgh. In return for the two players, the Penguins sent offensive defenseman and power-play quarterback Alex Goligoski to the Stars.
Before the trade, Neal had already posted his third 20-goal season, with 21 goals in 59 games. Because of this, the Penguins had high expectations for him.
However, he only posted one goal and six points in 20 games in black and gold. He finished the year with 22 goals and 45 points—a drop-off from his 55-point campaign in 2010.
This year, though, things are different so far.
Neal is currently first in the NHL with seven goals through nine games and seventh with eight points. His tallies include two power-play goals and one game-winning goal.
Most importantly, he is a restricted free agent at the end of the season. With his hot start, it is understandable that Penguins fans are saying he should be signed as soon as possible. While his performance has earned the discussion, ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Alison Myers
Pittsburgh Penguins: James Neal Needs to Stay Hot in Contract Year
October 21st, 2011 by Alison Myers Leave a reply »
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