Chris Neil's agent speaks

It looks like there isn't much of a gap between the Sens and Neil in terms of money. The sticking point seems to be the length of term. Neil's agent claims they're asking for less than 2.5 million but are looking for a long term deal.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/04/27/neil_contract/

Not interested. I'd rather have a hungry Bass for a fraction of that. $2+ on Neil could be better spent methinks.

if he signs for 1.5 or somewhere around there, maybe, but I am on the same mindset as Hemlock, Bass who wants to prove himself and has something to strive for a small fraction of the cost. a few more Neil like players coming up in the farm system, well maybe not that many, but if we draft Kassian, done deal.

Good news. So...1.4 X 4 years? I'm totally down with that. We need all the hitting and rough guys we can get our mitts on.

I re-iterate that I'm interested in Neil, but will NOT go a red-diddling penny over 1.5 per year.

SensFan71 wrote:if he signs for 1.5 or somewhere around there, maybe, but I am on the same mindset as Hemlock, Bass who wants to prove himself and has something to strive for a small fraction of the cost. a few more Neil like players coming up in the farm system, well maybe not that many, but if we draft Kassian, done deal.

I agree. I don't think he's got a skill set that is irreplacable. With Bass, and Zach Smith a year older, I don't see the need for Neil. Not at $2 anyway. I think he'll test the market anyway and will end up walking.

Why are we even talking about this? Chris Neil has no place on this team as far as I'm concerned.

Other teams get a decent amount of points out of their rough and tumble guys...we get a guy who spent last year being David Blaine on the road and not doing a whole lot more at home either.

Why would we want to pay this guy anything above league minimum to play on our fourth line?

504Heater wrote:Good news. So...1.4 X 4 years? I'm totally down with that. We need all the hitting and rough guys we can get our mitts on.

I re-iterate that I'm interested in Neil, but will NOT go a red-diddling penny over 1.5 per year.

IMHO the question is, does Neil take a roster spot away from a young talent that needs to develop with the big club?

davetherave wrote:

504Heater wrote:Good news. So...1.4 X 4 years? I'm totally down with that. We need all the hitting and rough guys we can get our mitts on.

I re-iterate that I'm interested in Neil, but will NOT go a red-diddling penny over 1.5 per year.

IMHO the question is, does Neil take a roster spot away from a young talent that needs to develop with the big club?

No thanks. Bass can do it for 600k.

Can Bass fight well though? Could he survive a bout with some of the heavy weights around the league? Do we need anyone on the roster who can do this anymore? If Bass can't effectively fill that fighter role don't we run the risk of getting our stars knocked around with ease?

I like Bass but I don't know if he can effectively fulfill that role. I realize some think the role of fighting isn't as important anymore but outside of Neil we're a pretty soft team. It would bug me if players started taking liberties against our top players without fear of revenge. As a team they might not perform as intensely without knowing they have a guy who can back them up and drop the gloves regularly.

Now, having mentioned that, I don't think we should sign Neil for anything above 2+. At that price we'll have to go without but at 1.5 and a 4yr deal it might be worth it.

davetherave wrote:

504Heater wrote:Good news. So...1.4 X 4 years? I'm totally down with that. We need all the hitting and rough guys we can get our mitts on.

I re-iterate that I'm interested in Neil, but will NOT go a red-diddling penny over 1.5 per year.

IMHO the question is, does Neil take a roster spot away from a young talent that needs to develop with the big club?

and that would be the straw that breaks the camel's back, to perform Neil's role, we have Winchester, Bass, Zack Attack, and well, could probably keep going here. I rather take the money saved from Neil and keep Donovan here as a mentor for the young kids at like 500k or 600k a season.

He's gotta go. Can't afford anything over what he made this year. He is so easily replaced.

504Heater wrote:Good news. So...1.4 X 4 years? I'm totally down with that. We need all the hitting and rough guys we can get our mitts on.

I re-iterate that I'm interested in Neil, but will NOT go a red-diddling penny over 1.5 per year.

Agreed, I wouldn't mind if he signed for that term and money at all. If this is the case, I can't see why Murray wouldn't do this. We could definitely hang onto him until Bass really gets his feet wet.

AND, if he remains on the 3rd line at that price, it's not too bad at all.

strachattack wrote:Can Bass fight well though? Could he survive a bout with some of the heavy weights around the league? Do we need anyone on the roster who can do this anymore? If Bass can't effectively fill that fighter role don't we run the risk of getting our stars knocked around with ease?

I like Bass but I don't know if he can effectively fulfill that role. I realize some think the role of fighting isn't as important anymore but outside of Neil we're a pretty soft team. It would bug me if players started taking liberties against our top players without fear of revenge. As a team they might not perform as intensely without knowing they have a guy who can back them up and drop the gloves regularly.

Now, having mentioned that, I don't think we should sign Neil for anything above 2+. At that price we'll have to go without but at 1.5 and a 4yr deal it might be worth it.

We don't need an enforcer. These scripted fights are for the birds anyway. We've got guys that will drop the mitts in the heat of battle. In those instances, I'd say that winning and losing isn't as important as standing up for yourself or a teammate. We've got that already. Neil will be a Maple Leaf on July 1, for some ungodly amount like $2.5 I think.

hemlock wrote:

strachattack wrote:Can Bass fight well though? Could he survive a bout with some of the heavy weights around the league? Do we need anyone on the roster who can do this anymore? If Bass can't effectively fill that fighter role don't we run the risk of getting our stars knocked around with ease?

I like Bass but I don't know if he can effectively fulfill that role. I realize some think the role of fighting isn't as important anymore but outside of Neil we're a pretty soft team. It would bug me if players started taking liberties against our top players without fear of revenge. As a team they might not perform as intensely without knowing they have a guy who can back them up and drop the gloves regularly.

Now, having mentioned that, I don't think we should sign Neil for anything above 2+. At that price we'll have to go without but at 1.5 and a 4yr deal it might be worth it.

We don't need an enforcer. These scripted fights are for the birds anyway. We've got guys that will drop the mitts in the heat of battle. In those instances, I'd say that winning and losing isn't as important as standing up for yourself or a teammate. We've got that already. Neil will be a Maple Leaf on July 1, for some ungodly amount like $2.5 I think.

Good, they can add him to the Jeff Finger rolodex of overpaid players.

504Heater wrote:Good news. So...1.4 X 4 years? I'm totally down with that. We need all the hitting and rough guys we can get our mitts on.

I re-iterate that I'm interested in Neil, but will NOT go a red-diddling penny over 1.5 per year.

I agree Heater. Bass can't fight as well as Neil. Hell, no one can on our roster. We need a fighter who can play 3rd or 4th line minutes. I also think Neil can attain more points if he's used effectively.

I just don't think Bass can handle the load of fighting. Neil's game picked up when McGratton started playing a few more games. The onus wasn't always on Neil to fight because he could rely on someone else and focus on playing hockey.