Because Neal + (one of the guys that go to the net) > all the guys that go to the net. Mikey's point, I think, is that there a glut of goal scoring because so many people are going to the net, stealing production from each other and not getting scoring from the middle of the attack zone.
Our best distance finisher is Evgeni Malkin. That said, I still agree with the Neal trade. Because Hornqvist is better at what he does than Neal at what he does. And it was a much needed character facelift for the club. We can win with the group we have, but it's an element that we lack now as a result. Which I don't think is a surprise to anyone. Neal is a tier-two sniper, we know we lost some goal-scoring touch. But we're probably better as a group. The cycle game is going to be our best bet overall...but let's not forget we have two of the best playmakers/gamebreakers in the whole league...good, bad or indifferent, we're going to be counting on these guys for the "next" goal...they can create on the rush, some of the others aren't so good at that...hopefully we can get Perron in a more comfortable spot, he's the ace in the hole in that regard because he's more versatile than the other wingers...better hands, can roof the puck from in close, accurate shooter but not overpowering...he'd be good with a Hornqvist screen in front because he can place a shot...
