Neal Reflects On Past Leadership Role in Vegas

James Neal is a tough guy. He's played through lots of injuries, had surgeries, been traded and faced disappointment in the Stanley Cup Final more than once. He's been around and seen just about everything there is to see in pro hockey. But he's not an automaton. So, there he was minutes after signing a fresh five-year contract worth $28.75 million and he found himself in tears.
"It was only one year in Vegas. But it was incredible," said Neal. "We became so close. It was something special. Think about everything that happened. It's something I'll never forget. So yes, it was hard. It was emotional. You think you're making a decision. It's extremely difficult. It's supposed to be a good day, but you feel like it's totally the opposite."
Vegas is in Calgary today and will face Neal and his Flames for the first time since he left in free agency during the summer.

Neal scored 25 goals last season with Vegas and was a key player in the Golden Knights drive to the Cup final. And for perhaps the first time in his career - he was a leader. Not only a goal scorer on the ice but a player who helped drive the culture in the dressing room and around the city of Vegas. Neal wasn't a small piece - he was a major chunk of the Golden Knights inaugural season.
"When I was selected in the expansion draft I felt like it was my time to take that role on," said Neal. "Going into the year, there were only a few guys fans were looking at. Flower, Deryk (Engelland) and myself maybe. As time when on, they got to know Marchy (Jonathan Marchessault), (William) Karlsson, Smitty (Reilly Smith), Nabber (Brayden McNabb) and (Nate) Schmidt. But at the start, we needed to try and make a team and Flower and Deryk and I talked about that a lot. We felt like it was time to step up. Not just on the ice."
Neal says he was determined from the very beginning to make Vegas a happy and winning environment.
"I didn't want to be traded again. I didn't want to lose and be miserable coming to the rink," he said. "That motivated me and it motivated our group all year. It was a great, great year."
Free agency is hard to come by in the NHL. Players only have a few opportunities to make a decision and to maximize their earning potential. Vegas offered Neal a contract, Calgary came with more term and money. The decision to move on wasn't easy but as the hockey saying goes, "great game, tough business."
Neal doesn't expect tonight's game to be very emotional.
"I've been through it before. I'm used to it," he said.
Vegas arrived in Calgary late Sunday night after a game in Edmonton so there was no big dinner among old teammates, but he said he's in contact with lots of the Vegas players. And the text messages are particularly frequent when the weather in Calgary gets chilly.
"It snowed here during training camp. I got way to too many texts that day," smiled Neal. "Way too many."