Brennan: Chris Neil signs 3 year, 5.75 million dollar extension

SeawaySensFan wrote:

Riprock wrote:Yeah, doesn't look like a guy with a gun to his head, forcing to him to put his signature on a contract that is unfair to him.

I'm sure his priority is to be a Senator for life. Doesn't mean that Melnyk is not a cheapskate, though.

Michallica wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

Riprock wrote:Yeah, doesn't look like a guy with a gun to his head, forcing to him to put his signature on a contract that is unfair to him.

I'm sure his priority is to be a Senator for life. Doesn't mean that Melnyk is not a cheapskate, though.

Exactly. Neil wanted to be a senator and the GM, IMO, took advantage of that to the fullest. Well...a little too much actually.

Hoags wrote:

wprager wrote:

Chris Neil is great at what he does. He's great at lacing up skates, catching players with their head down, taking abuse in front of the opposition goal, getting the team and the crowd going. Luckily for him his salary does not depend on his business acumen. If he truly thinks he took a $1M+ home discount then he's taken a few too may to the head.

If you look at what Brandon Cussing Prust got then damn right we took a hometown discount, he could've easily gotten more on the open market.

Neil does what he does and he may be a 4th liner on a contender but he's damn good at what he does on and off the ice. I imagine there's quite a few teams around the league who would pay to have someone like that.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

NEELY wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Where do I go to find a good selection of Ottawa shirts with names on the back?

Scotia Bank Place

Dammit...The store's open on weekends I presume?

Yes. Carlingwood and Place D'Orleans too.

Michallica wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

NEELY wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Where do I go to find a good selection of Ottawa shirts with names on the back?

Scotia Bank Place

Dammit...The store's open on weekends I presume?

Yes. Carlingwood and Place D'Orleans too.

Another good one is Sports Experts....got a nice Karlsson Tee

SeawaySensFan wrote:

TheAvatar wrote:

wprager wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

wprager wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:If I'm the Islanders and Neil hits free agency, I offer him 3 million dollars. He's a guy that can make everyone play a little bigger and add a lot to your team - especially a young one like theirs.

Islanders got Carkner. It doesn't get much bigger than that. As I said already, Carkner didn't fight as much as Neil because he didn't have to.

Actually, yeah, that's a perfect example. If they overpaid for Carkner, imagine them overpaying for a player like Chris Neil?

No, it's because Carkner is a heavyweight and what they've been referring to as a nuclear deterrent (and I have to admit I hate that term in this context). Chris Neil is neither one of those. He may be the heart and soul of the Senators but outside of Ottawa that is not worth as much as it is here.

I completely disagree with you on this point. And I find your other posting about his business acumen to be borderline insulting and demeaning; as far as being good at catching people with their head down, not a huge fan of that either. By all accounts (e.g.: Chris Stevenson saying on the radio yesterday that numerous teams would be trying to get Neil if he was on the market), Neil would bank in if he appeared on the free agent market and would be able to get a financially better deal. His value is NOT just in Ottawa. I'm just happy he decided to take the home discount and that he'll be staying in Ottawa for the next several years and hopefully complete his career here.

What about "he's good at lacing up skates?" How did you like that one?

wprager wrote:Oh, you guys just don't appreciate me at all.

Bottom line is, Chris Neil is a 4th line player on a championship team, and that does not translate into $3M x 3 at age 35 (he will be 35 when that extension kicks in).

I really like Chris Neil, except when he takes stupid penalties (he still does when he gets frustrated) or when he waves his arms after a fight (even if he didn't win). I'd much rather he stuck to getting the crowd up with a thunderous hit or a fight he won convincingly.

Riprock wrote:Still agree that someone would have paid Neil more elsewhere, and that his contract is mutually beneficial.