The Columbus Blue Jackets Just Added A Former 40 Goal Scorer To Their Lineup

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced they have signed veteran forward James Neal to a professional tryout contact better known as a PTO.

The 34 year-old Neal who once was a premier sniper in the League has seen his career decline dramatically, only managing to play 19 games with the St Louis Blues last-season. Neal was then was demoted down to the Blues AHL affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds.

Neal rejuvenated his career in the AHL enough to get a another NHL opportunity after scoring 14 goals, and 26 points in 28 games with the Thunderbirds.

Neal is a former 40 goal scorer at the NHL level though and has surpassed the 20+ goal total in 10 seasons. That was also when Neal was in his prime and had players like Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin feeding Neal passes.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have a pretty good playmaker in their own right signing Johnny Gaudreau to a massive contract last month via free agency. Could Johnny Hockey help Neal get his game back on a NHL level? I guess will have to wait and see this season.