from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,

Neal can score but people say he isn’t a life of the party kind of guy. The feeling in some quarters is he thinks he’s better than he is, too, also he’s been suspended for some foolish stuff. Everybody gets traded in this game but Neal–a scorer in a league where teams crave scorers– has been dealt twice and he’s only 26. From Dallas to Pittsburgh, and now from the Penguins to the Predators, where they’re also trying to get more offence, although they still need a centre for Neal. Hello Paul Stastny, if they can afford the unrestricted Colorado Avs’ playmaker and he might have a hankering to play with Shea Weber on defence, as well.

Neal’s a one-shot scorer. “Exactly,” said Preds’ GM David Poile.

Hornqvist is a better skating Tomas Holmstrom. “Exactly,” said Poile.

Scores his goals 10 to 15 feet from the net. “Closer than that,” laughed Poile.

“He can get 30 goals if he plays with Malkin. This might be one of those trades that turn out for both teams.”

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