PLAYOFF WARRIOR

So, what's the real deal with The Real Deal, anyway?
"Oh, that goes back to Razor and Ralphie in Dallas,'' laughs James Neal, referencing the Lone Star State's long-time radio duo of colour commentator Darryl Reaugh and play-by-play voice Ralph Strangis.
"My grandfather worked at General Motors in Oshawa, Ontario, as salesman for 30 years. They used to call him Square Deal.
"Square Deal Neal.
"I had told them that story so it kind of evolved with me into The Real Deal. They started calling me that on the air.
"It stuck. I don't mind. It's fun."

And it does, admittedly, trip off the tongue rather merrily.
Among a slew of off-season manoeuvres orchestrated by Flames' GM Brad Treliving in a pitched effort to re-establish solid playoff footing, the five-year, $28.75M commitment to the soon-to-be 31-year-old UFA Neal has understandably generated the most noise.
The man's recent habit, of course, being to dive deep into the post-season.
He soldiered on until June 7 this late spring/early summer with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Until June 11 a season earlier in the employ of the Nashville Predators.
An impressive 42 games worth of bonus hockey.
Which doesn't leave an abundance of decompression time before beginning to amp up for the next run at the big, jug-eared silver chalice they all covet.
"Any year you go to the finals you're playing until late June, so the summer goes quick,'' Neal explains. "You try to get as much rest in as you can because you've played a lot of hockey. It's a grind. I don't think anyone can fully realize what a grind it is until you go through it, until you've been a part of it. Playing every second night, the ups and downs, the high of winning an overtime game one night then the low of losing one 48 hours later.
"It's fantastic, but it's tough.
"That's the beauty of experience and that's what makes, I think, older guys that have done it and won it such valuable pieces to a team.
"Every series you're battling - the stakes couldn't be higher, putting your body on the line, doing whatever it takes not to let each other down.
"So when it's over, you get your rest, then get your body straightened out and start training again. If you have any lingering bumps and bruises, take care of those first. I started training again on July 5.
"You do kinda feel like you're getting behind.
"Things turn around quick. But no complaints. That's the way you want it. Nobody wants to be finished in April."
Given the uncertainty of his contractual status, offers to weigh, destinations to grade, possibilities to consider, this has been an unsettled sort of off-season for Neal, entering his 11th year in the league.
"Yeah, it's been a tough summer for 'fun','' he confesses. "But that's okay. You have all kinds of time for fun after you retire. A little bit different for me, this summer. Long playoff run in Vegas, then not knowing where I'd be on July 1. Third team in three years and everything that goes with that.
"You finish June 10, you do your week thing with your teammates, then I was just kinda waiting to see what would happen, where I'd be moving my stuff, my furniture, everything.
"But I live out here in Connecticut in the off-season, just outside New York City, so I've been able to chill on weekends."
What precisely, he's asked, injects him with optimism for the task ahead?
"Everything," he answers. "Starting with Smitty in goal, to our defence, to Gio, the adds we made and then how deep our forward group is. We've got skill, we've got grit, we've got goaltending.
"For me, being in the playoffs, being in those big games, wanting to be a difference-maker and score that big goal, I'm looking to add the little extra that maybe they're missing and hopefully put them over the top so we can be a very competitive playoff team."
The Real Deal for fans.
"I've been through tons of different playoff-type atmospheres,'' he says of this fresh challenge. "I've been through all different types of series. Lots of stuff. I'm going to try and bring that to Calgary, to the locker room, help the young guys as best I can and kinda lead by example.
"I want to win. Bad.
"I've been really close to the ultimate the last two years. When you get a taste of that … the way a city comes together, a team comes together, well, it's a pretty special time.
"I know Calgary's been through that before and wants to experience it again.
"A short summer for me is winding down pretty fast here.
"So I'm just excited to get there, get going, and start a new chapter in my career."