The St. Louis Blues have brought in a ton of veteran experience in one day, signing James Neal and Michael Frolik to professional tryouts. Both players will join the Blues for training camp as they look for NHL contracts.
Neal, 34, was once one of the most consistent goal scorers in the league, posting seasons of at least 21 goals for the first ten years of his career. Things changed in 2018-19 when he signed a five-year, $28.75MM contract with the Calgary Flames, as suddenly his goal scoring dried up and he was pushed further and further down the lineup.
After two up and down years with the Edmonton Oilers, Neal’s contract was bought out in July. He will still earn nearly $2MM from the Oilers in each of the next four years, meaning whatever he was to make on another NHL contract would just be a bonus. Though his overall play has obviously declined, Neal did actually score 24 goals in 84 games for the Oilers over those two seasons, 13 of them coming on the powerplay. If there’s any of that juice left, perhaps the Blues could use him as a sort of specialist to replace some of the scoring that left in the offseason, or that which could still be moved out.
Frolik, 33, is a bit of a different story. He was never a pure goal scorer, far from it in fact as he hasn’t recorded a 20-goal season since his sophomore year in 2009-10. Instead, he grew into a defensively capable support player who could be relied on for somewhere around 40 points a year. That offense disappeared over the last few years though and Frolik was limited almost entirely to the taxi squad for the Montreal Canadiens in 2020-21. In eight games, he failed to record a single point.
It’s hard to believe he’ll ever be an impact player again, but you could certainly do worse than Frolik if you’re looking for depth to keep on hand in case of injury. Having a player like him in camp prepares for that situation, given the Blues don’t have a huge number of young players pushing (or ready) for playing time.
As with any tryout agreement, it’s also important to remember that this does not mean the Blues have exclusive rights to these players. Any NHL team can still sign them if they wish, meaning this is a showcase to the whole league.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
They must be expecting to unload that tarasenko money if they think they will sign both or even one, and thomas. Maybe another trade is in the works for maybe a scandella or someone else making alittle money to open some space
Well, @Gavin, after the recent poll for voting on the best available PTO candidate, maybe the answer will turn out to be “everybody.” Everyone on the list will get invites, but no one will get a contract offer. Cruel COVID-humor… “Sorry, pal, somebody doused us with Cap-B-Gone…better luck next door.”
Gilmore. Gilmore. I called your number, didn’t I?
@Ol’ Voodoo – Dougie? Does he still have eligibility for this league?
@Ol’ Voodoo – Never mind – that’s the *other* Gilmore.. Another Friday disppointment. :(
@Mac – I did a write in vote with your name for the top PTO list, so don’t let me down. :D
@Gbear – I am humbled, beyond words. I can’t thank you enough! :)
I almost forgot to ask – Who’s the PTO with this time? Please don’t say ARI, OTT, NJD, ANA, SJS, or DET…or BUF…or CAR…or MIN (Kaprizov’s a Cap Cannibal!)
@Mac – I figured that as weak as the Preds forward group is, a trip to Music City might be in order. :)
@Gbear – BBQ! And pucks! And…MORE BBQ! Ahm HON-GREEE! :)
Uh-Oh! Pete and Hal might beat me to the post-game spread. I might be able to hold my own with Pete, but Hal is still 6’7″ and an Eighth of a TON! He’s got some serious reach and an appetite! I can’t see John Hynes coming to my defense – I may have been mean to him on a posting or two…
Heinz may have no choice but to see how you do on that top line considering they don’t have a top line. ;)
@Gbear – “Heinz”??? Are there 57 of him now? One is plenty! Both #9 & #92 would be decent playmakers, unless they start yelling at me, “PASS the puck, already, you old &@%#%@!!!” Tolvanen might just be saying, “He’s taking my spot? Ooof!” Time to start working on the old lob-wedge techniques…
@Mac – I swear that’s the 20th time I’ve wrote Heinz instead of Hynes, LOL! Sounds alike at least. :D
Look at it this way, you only need to get a few lucky goals to match Duchene and Johansen’s totals from last season. That might get you an 8M per season deal! :D
@Gbear – $8M?! I’ll split it, 50-50, with you! As long as GMDP doesn’t ask me to hide the Easter Eggs next spring, like that time when he was in D.C., after a certain ill-fated playoff game. “Some of those eggs were probably never found!”
@Mac – At worst, you get bought out like Turris and get paid for the next 10 years (I’m fine with a deferred payment schedule like that). :)
@Gbear – I could be the salary cap version of Ricky DiPietro! And, you’ll still get the 50% commission! Win-win! :)
Neal has suffered on both face-off percentage and shot percentage in recent years.
Frolik can still win face-offs, but only 8 games last year is hardly indicative of his current value and his performance peak is more recent.
Calling it for Frolik if either.
Neal is a winger who took a whopping 57 faceoffs the past 5 years combined. What does his faceoff% have to do with anything? And his shooting% was at 13.8% the last 2 years. That’s not bad considering the NHL’s average is usually around 10%. His problem is he’s not a full time top 6 player, and he’s never a bottom 6 player.
I’ve been saying all along with regards to Bozak (now signed), Thomas, and the Tarasenko trade. It will take place after the Eichel situation is resolved.
Thomas already has a deal in place guaranteed
Tarasenko trade is just waiting for Eichel.
Thought Bozer would resign all along
I have a couple ideas to trim roster spots and make alittle payroll flexibility. So Brady Tkachuk has been skating with the blues and has made it known he would love to Play for them. It also seems like him and the sens management are at an impasse about his contract. So I suggest the blues offer to acquire him. Maybe tarasenko, a first rounder, klim kostin and zac Sanford for Tkachuk. The blues would be sending out 7.5 in tarasenko and 2 mil in Sanford. Then sign Tkachuk for 7 or 8 yrs at 7 to 8 mil. The sens get a first, kostin a former first and Sanford who has some ability. They then can flip tarasenko for whatever they can get. Also the sens get financial flexibility(after moving tarasenko). Blues get a hometown player to fill the tarasenko void, plus the sens could lose Tkachuk for nothing.With that 1.5 mil, add it to whatever cap you have and sign thomas. I would then look to move bortuzzo, Clifford and maceachern for anything possible. Bortuzzo is not needed with mikkola, walman, peronuvich and Santini around.Use the 3.5 mil from those 3 and sign Neal and frolik for some or most of that 3.5 mil. Just a thought
I like Bortz though. Ha ha.
Tarasenko would not waive to go to Ottawa. Other than that, sounds great.
Clifford if he will still fight adds some much needed muscle. I still believe in that aspect of the game. Did not like to see Reaves leave. He aided our 4th line greatly but then Marroon stepped in and it was fine.
I’d love to see a trade for Tkachuk but unless it’s an offer sheet then I don’t see it happening
Only place I see Tarasenko going is NY to be with his pal Panarin. They share agents now also.
I used to play fantasy hockey too.
Fantasy hockey? Seriously? Why say such a thing. Tarasenko wants out of St Louis. Has some control of where he goes and NY had interest in him. Fantasy hockey…. Fool.
That trade offer is actually a pretty good offer. I can’t see Ottawa letting Tkachuk walk but they’d get a bit of everything in return. Seems so foolish that they have so much cap space, a very unique up and coming star and they won’t pay him.
@backhandinbaptist – Sounds like Mean Gene is trying to be the next Grandpa Munster, this time in the NHL, instead of the one that stunk up the NFL for decades. For those of you who’ve never heard the reference (started by a well-known sports talk radio host), it aptly described a lousy NFL owner, whose name rhymes with “Davis.” It seems like every year, or so, we have to collectively scream at Melnyk, “If you’re not going to pay him, who ARE you going to pay?” This year’s “him” is Walt Jr. #2. It was BoroCop before, and others before him. I hope he holds out for a while…
@mac – Melnyk is one of the worst owners. I know it’s easy for us to say “oh just pay him” because it’s not our 8m a year however didn’t he know that’s what running a sports team is about? Draft stars. Developer stars. PAY stars and start winning. Being a perennial top 10 draftee shouldn’t be the goal. Shocked Bettman doesn’t run this guy outta the league.
@backhandinbaptist – Way too much logic and good sense there. EM just took both of us off the Christmas Card list. Maybe we shouldn’t have added “Hey, Melnyk! There’s a Cap Floor, too, you know!” Well, there’s always the Pegulas…
@mac – haha dang I always loved his dollar store generic cards, he’d always send a Tim’s card, wasn’t loaded of course, I think he’d swipe them from the counter, but the sentiment was nice!
Not a bad pair to give a tryout to. Might still be some game left in them if used properly.
Like the potential of James Neal in bottom 6, like the article pointed out he has 24 goals over his last 84 games, so basically a full season. Potential 20 plus goals out a bottom 6 player, who will cost basically nothing is something I’d take in a heartbeat. He’s only 34 as well, for reference Perron turns 34 this year, so he’s still got some gas left in tank possibly. And to the comment on Tkachuk, I believe one of the Tkachuk boys will end up here within 2 to 3 years. Mathew Tkachuk will be unrestricted free agent after this season, and believe he will seriously consider the Blues as an option. We will see. Vladdys 7.5 million will be gone for sure then whether we trade him or not, and I don’t see Ror making 7.5 on his next contract either which would be expiring then as well. Given he will be turning 33 when his next contract would start, and definitely see a pay decrease there. So, we should have the space to add Tkachuk then, and the cap will go up a million each offseason for next 3-4 years, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but will be an extra 2-3 million and every little bit helps.
After the futility in Colorado and Buffalo, winning the CUP in St. Louis, do you think ROR would leave here if we keep a competitive team?
@Eric05216969559 – One little correction – Matthew will be an RFA w/Arb after next season (per CapFriendly).