The biggest advantage to that “real deal” — which cost the Oilers in terms of cap retention ($750,000), a draft pick (third round in 2021), and $7 million in actual cash paid out on Lucic’s front-loaded contract — was that Neal’s pact had no restrictive clauses that would force the Oilers to protect him in the upcoming expansion draft, or preclude them from buying it out at some future point. For now James Neal will surely remain an Oiler, even as he seems destined to join the rotation of depth forwards who can be cycled in and out of the line-up based on team need and recent form. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. The next issue of Edmonton Journal Headline News will soon be in your inbox. The team has recently seen Tyler Ennis, Alex Chiasson, and James Neal all clear. The ultimate, personalized mobile sports experience, Bettman amid proposed NHL lottery changes: 'I don't believe there's tanking', How 2 franchise-altering trades could spark a new Sabres rebuild, Laine's confidence 'closer to zero' during slump, NHL Thursday betting preview: Back the Flyers, Blue Jackets on home ice, Kotkaniemi leads the way as Canadiens thump Canucks. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. The Edmonton Oilers placed forward James Neal on waivers Saturday, the team announced.The move could be procedural to accommodate Edmonton's taxi-squad plans - a … There are further complications due to the fine print of Long Term Injured Reserve legalese which the Oilers invoked when they placed Oscar Klefbom on LTIR at season’s start. The first four of those bolded names, along with Neal himself, played in Edmonton’s most recent game, a 3-0 win over the Canadiens right in Montreal. Feb 17: Shore has cleared waivers and can be assigned to the taxi squad or minor leagues. © 2021 Edmonton Journal, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Edmonton Oilers forward James Neal (18) and Chicago Blackhawks forward Drake Caggiula (91) battle for the puck during second period NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020. tap here to see other videos from our team, LEAVINS: Player grades — Mike Smith aces the test in wins over Habs, McCURDY: Jesse Puljujarvi pulled from Oilers lineup after COVID scare, STAPLES: “Wild” Bill Lagesson makes his move, McCURDY: Player grades — Oilers complete sweep of Senators. He managed a couple of decent shots on goal but struggled to keep up to the pace of play, as he has generally done throughout much of the season to date. We encountered an issue signing you up. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Neal moved up the line-up in the Montreal game, taking Puljujarvi’s spot at 1RW alongside Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The move isn’t terribly surprising considering Neal was placed on waivers and cleared this weekend. The #Oilers have placed forward James Neal on waivers. The Oilers would have had no such option with Lucic were he still with the team. Sharks won't void Kane's contract amid his bankruptcy filing, Panarin rejoins Rangers, won't play Thursday vs. Bruins, Coyotes' Kuemper week-to-week with lower-body injury. Certain content reproduced under license. While Neal is technically available to any NHL team that might wish to put in a claim in the next 24 hours, the chances of that actually happening are effectively zero. The one vet who has been in and out of the line-up, Kris Russell, remains protected from waivers by the No Movement Clause to which he and Peter Chiarelli agreed in 2017. Finally, young Evan Bouchard is on the first year of his ELC and can be moved to the taxi squad freely, but for now he is a regular in the game night line-up. Graterol, signed by the Twins to a … There was an error, please provide a valid email address. The one goal came in Winnipeg on Sunday night, when James Neal got a mid-game promotion to replace the struggling Ennis on the third line with Kyle Turris and the … Shaq has had a long-running beef with Dwight Howard, and he’s accusing Kenny Smith of being a big catalyst for it. A maximum of $1.075 million of any contract can be buried off-roster, while any replacement called up to the roster will have at least the league minimum cap hit of $700,000. Even as the other six Canadian team take to the ice in Hockey Day in Canada action, the Edmonton Oilers have a well-deserved day off on Saturday. James, who questioned holding the game in the first place, was content to watch as his team cruised to victory. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That latter issue will no doubt be a topic for discussion in the upcoming off-season. Winger James Neal has become the latest Oilers forward to find himself on the waiver wire as GM Ken Holland looks to maximize flexibility up front. The Edmonton Oilers placed forward James Neal on waivers Saturday, the team announced. — Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 13, 2021 We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Holland reduced the number of forwards on his active roster to 12 some time ago, with game day changes occurring directly from the taxi squad to the active roster. At such time as Neal is placed on the taxi squad, only marginal salary cap savings can be achieved and even those are uncertain. I frankly expect the same respect is shown to Neal next game as a sign he is still in the team’s plans even after enduring the indignity of the waiver wire. Neal has appeared in nine games for the Oilers this season, registering two goals and one assist while averaging 13:15 of ice time per contest. Some good news on that last front, as Puljujarvi has been cleared to rejoin the team after some ambiguous test results on Thursday. After being placed on the Covid Protocol Related Absence list, #Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi has been deemed eligible by the @NHL to resume all team activities. #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/lgEj53bM7f. The absence of a NMC in Neal’s pact is not only critical to the upcoming expansion, it enables them to place the player on waivers today. The #Oilers have placed forward James Neal on waivers. There are few NHL teams with the cap space to even consider it, and frankly zero reason why they should. The 33-year-old's mediocre numbers and cumbersome contract may turn away any potential suitors, as Neal is owed $5.75 million in each of the next two seasons. All of them cleared waivers earlier in the season, even as the 30-day exemption period after a successful waiver starts to apply to some of them. That caused a late start to his season as he endured an extended quarantine in each city while he recovered from the illness. By Phil Miller We apologize, but this video has failed to load. For his part Neal actually contracted COVID just before he was slated to travel to Edmonton from Nashville before the season. The waiver of Neal will add him to an extended list that already includes Jujhar Khaira, Tyler Ennis, Alex Chiasson, Devin Shore, Joakim Nygard, and Patrick Russell. There has been precious little sign of the lethal hands which have produced 291 NHL goals in his accomplished career. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Please try again. #Oilers roster moves Devin Shore has been recalled from the taxi squad & James Neal … Good news! But there is method to his madness. He was finally activated in Game 6 and has subsequently played 9 of 11 games, posting boxcars of 2-1-3, -2 in a bottom six role with close to three minutes per game on the first powerplay unit. Here are the final projected lineups for the Edmonton Oilers vs. Ottawa Senators matchup including the latest injuries, livestream information, and TV. Twins claim reliever Ian Hamilton off waivers from Phillies The 25-year-old pitched last season for the Chicago White Sox, but has been waived twice since then. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. As an example, Khaira, who cleared back on Jan 12, would need to be waived again at this point in the unlikely event that the Oilers felt the need to send him back to the taxi squad. To this point they have been unscathed by waiver claims up front and that is virtually certain to remain the case tomorrow morning. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. PostPandemic: How COVID-19 is reshaping Canada, Edmonton Oilers place James Neal on waivers, welcome back Jesse Puljujarvi from COVID protocol. From an Edmonton perspective such a claim would be a massive break, but don’t get your hopes up, Oil fans. But it seems that the team wants to open up the option to sit him out for a given game here or there. Nothing saying such a move is imminent; the Oilers waived Chiasson a couple of weeks ago, then placed him right back in the line-up. Time has proven the Oilers can’t get out from under the Milan Lucic contract that easily, even as Lucic himself was moved along for Neal in the summer of 2019. Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox. The Oilers did make some news this morning, however. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Edmonton Journal, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. James Lileks Jennifer Brooks ... Neal St. Anthony Opinion Exchange Editorial ... was claimed off waivers by the Reds on Wednesday. The winger is on an expensive ticket of $5.75 million for the remainder of this and two additional seasons. Read more about cookies here. ... Blake Griffin will reportedly sign with Nets after 6-time All-Star clears waivers. The move could be procedural to accommodate Edmonton's taxi-squad plans - a common occurrence this season due to expanded rosters - but the veteran winger is available for any team to claim over the next 24 hours. How much of that is due to his late start and his general health vs. the fact his skills are in decline at age 33 is an open question. That leaves the Oilers in a tight spot at both forward and, famously, in goal, where they have already lost two would-be #3 stoppers via the waiver route. The Oilers have had about 45% of both shots and goals during his 89 minutes of action at 5v5. Here are the final projected lineups for the Edmonton Oilers vs. Ottawa Senators matchup including the latest injuries, livestream information, and more. LeBron James is still hoping to play alongside his son in the NBA, but says that's a 'long-term' goal. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. Even Shore was already waived at the beginning of the season, but his clock had expired and he needed to … Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. The Oilers technically have a 23-man roster but Holland has chosen to use all three of his “extra” spots on defencemen, in a lopsided 12 F / 9 D / 2 G distribution. With other forwards including Zack Kassian, Gaetan Haas, and (temporarily) Jesse Puljujarvi on the injury/COVID lists, the Oilers have made extensive use of their taxi squad options. Same goes for young veteran Slater Koekkoek, another useful defender with a sub $1 million cap hit. Headlines 'Lies': Lowry fed up with reports linking Raptors guard to trade rumors. With all three of youngsters Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones, and William Lagesson having graduated from their Entry Level Contracts this season, all would need to clear waivers before being assigned to the taxi squad, and Holland has plenty of reason to believe that they wouldn’t. Louisiana School, mid‑19th c., “Portrait of James Gallier, Sr. (1798‑1866)”, oil‑enhanced photograph mounted to canvas, unsigned, 29 1/2 in. Feb 16: The Edmonton Oilers have placed another depth forward on waivers, this time moving Devin Shore there. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site.