Penguins sign LW Neal to 6-year contract extension
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) James Neal's first full year with the Pittsburgh Penguins keeps getting better. And now the high-scoring forward will be around for another six seasons after signing $30 million contract extension on Sunday.
``With the new commitment the organization's going to give me, it couldn't be a better feeling,'' Neal said, shortly after signing a deal reached hours before the Penguins prepared to play at Buffalo. ``I couldn't have found a better spot.''
The contract extension comes nearly a year to the day the Penguins acquired Neal in a trade with Dallas that sent defenseman Alex Goligoski to the Stars. And it marks a significant reward for a 24-year-old who is enjoying a career season playing on a prolific line with Evgeni Malkin and Chris Kunitz.
Neal's career-best 30 goals are second on the team - behind Malkin's 32 - and tied for fourth in the NHL. He also has a career-best 56 points and 13 power-play goals, tied for the league lead.
It's a big step for the player who had difficulty finding a role with Pittsburgh last year, managing just a goal and five assists in 20 games.
``Obviously, it didn't work out right away,'' said Neal, who was initially acquired to boost an injury-riddled lineup that was playing without Malkin and Sidney Crosby. ``But coming into this year, starting over, having a good feeling of things, things falling into place, it's been a great feeling.''
Neal was in the final season of his contract, and is now locked up through the 2017-18 season.
Neal has been consistent throughout the year. He opened by scoring goals in each of Pittsburgh's first eight home games, and also had an eight-game point streak, in which Neal had seven goals and four assists from Dec. 8-27.
A first-time All-Star selection, he's failed to get a point only 19 times in 58 games this season, with his longest drought a six-game stretch from Dec. 31-Jan. 11.
Coach Dan Bylsma was confident Neal would find his touch in Pittsburgh.
``Although he didn't put up points, you saw the way James Neal could play,'' coach Dan Bylsma said. ``He's a dangerous player. He can skate. He's a physical player. And he also obviously can shoot the lights off the puck. He's done all those things.''
He has 31 goals and 62 points in 72 regular-season games with Pittsburgh.
``I love everything about what goes on here and how we play the game,'' Neal said. ``I couldn't see myself anywhere else, and hopefully the success continues.''
