James Neal is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who has had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on September 3, 1987, in Whitby, Ontario, Canada. Neal began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Plymouth Whalers in 2005. He played for the Whalers for three seasons, during which he scored 89 goals and 131 assists in 184 games.
Neal was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the second round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Stars in 2008 and played for the team for three seasons. During his time with the Stars, Neal established himself as a reliable goal scorer, scoring 55 goals and 48 assists in 179 games.
In 2011, Neal was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played for four seasons. He had a career-best season in 2011-12, scoring 40 goals and 41 assists in 80 games. Neal was a key player for the Penguins during his time with the team, helping them reach the playoffs every season he was there.
In 2014, Neal was traded to the Nashville Predators, where he played for two seasons. He continued to be a productive player for the Predators, scoring 58 goals and 51 assists in 142 games. Neal helped the Predators reach the playoffs in both seasons he played for the team.
In 2016, Neal was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL Expansion Draft. He played for the Golden Knights for three seasons, during which he scored 72 goals and 54 assists in 197 games. Neal was a key player for the Golden Knights during their inaugural season in 2017-18, helping them reach the Stanley Cup Final.
In 2019, Neal was traded to the Edmonton Oilers, where he played for two seasons. He had a productive first season with the Oilers, scoring 19 goals and 11 assists in 55 games. However, his production declined in his second season with the team, and he was traded to the St. Louis Blues in 2021.
Overall, Neal has had a successful career in the NHL, scoring 292 goals and 251 assists in 945 games. He has been a reliable goal scorer throughout his career and has helped his teams reach the playoffs on multiple occasions. Neal has also represented Canada in international competition, winning a gold medal at the 2007 World Junior Championships.
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