Flames' Neal: 'I want to be a top-six guy'. MORE:
Flames 3-in-3: Is the decision to sit Neal the correct one?Calgary Flames winger James Neal posted just seven goals and 19 points in 63 regular season games and was a healthy scratch for the team's series-clinching Game 5 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
"I want to be a top-six guy who is counted on to score goals," he explained. "I want to be an impact player. I've scored 20-plus goals in every one of my years except this year. I know I can get back to being the type of player." "That was hard," Neal told Kristen Anderson of Postmedia of sitting in the press box. "I've never had to go through that in my career. That was a tough pill to swallow. For me, I think, going forward, you take it. Be honest with yourself... and come back and have something to prove.
Neal signed a five-year, $28.75 million contract with the Flames last July after topping the 20-goal mark for a 10th straight time in his career with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Flames Ice Chips: Neal out, Czarnik in as Flames try and stay aliveThe Flames are facing elimination against the Avalanche and are desperate to extend their season, but they will have to do it without James Neal, who will be a healthy scratch tonight, in favour of Austin Czarnik. Jermain Franklin breaks down the move and addresses other line changes for Calgary.
Read more »
Neal skates as extra at Flames practice - TSN.caIt appears James Neal will not be in the lineup when the Calgary Flames host the Colorado Avalanche for Game 5 of their first-round series. Neal spent Friday's gameday skate working as an extra with the Flames facing a must-win game down 3-1 in the series.
Read more »
Flames' Neal takes a seat for Game 5 as disastrous year continues - Sportsnet.caThe fact that James Neal is being replaced in the Calgary Flames' lineup for Game 5 against the Colorado Avalanche by a 26-year-old who will make his NHL playoff debut says plenty about how ineffective Neal has been these playoffs and this season.
Read more »
Flames' James Neal a healthy scratch for Game 5 vs. Avalanche - Sportsnet.caJames Neal has been underperforming he will be a healthy scratch for Saturday’s Game 5 showdown between the Flames and Avalanche.
Read more »
Flames 3-in-3: Is the decision to sit Neal the correct one?In order to extend the series againts the Avs, was it the right or wrong call to sit James Neal? Should the flames expect more from their depth players? Does the flames top line have more to give? Jermain Franklin and Aaron Vickers weigh in on Flames 3-in-3.
Read more »
With Neal scratched, Flames looking for spark versus AvsDown 3-1 to the Avalanche, the Flames have decided to scratch playoff veteran James Neal to make room for Austin Czarnik in Friday's Game 5. Will this roster move, along with the shuffling of lines help propel the Flames to victory? Dave Poulin weighs in.
Read more »
Calgary Flames eliminated from playoffs in five gamesAdd the Calgary Flames to shocking Stanley Cup playoff exits this season.
Read more »
After a season to remember, Calgary Flames grapple with playoff debacleDespite Calgary’s 50 wins in 82 games during the NHL regular season, they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in five games during the first-round of the playoff series
Read more »
Struggling Calgary Flames must regroup in a hurry after brutal wake-up callTuesday’s 6-2 trampling by Colorado came as a shock for Calgary, which needs a victory on Wednesday to keep from falling into a hole that very few teams are able to dig out of
Read more »
Flames face long summer after early playoff exit - Sportsnet.caThe shock has worn off for the Calgary Flames, but the sting hasn't. The top seed in the NHL's Western Conference was ousted in the first round of playoffs in five games by the eighth-seeded Colorado Avalanche.
Read more »