The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed winger James Neal to a 6 year – $30 million extension, the team announced this morning.
The deal begins next season and Neal is signed through the 2017-2018 season with annual cap hit of $5 million.
The deal does not include a signing bonus and is a straight salary of $5 million per season for all six years.
According to a source, Neal’s deal also includes a no trade clause but doesn’t kick in until he becomes eligible when he turns 27. Under the clause, Neal will provide 8 teams that he can’t be traded to.
Neal who has emerged as one of the premier young goal scorers, has 30 goals, 56 points and leads the NHL with 242 shots on goal.
Contract talks between Neal’s agent Pat Morris and assistant GM Jason Botterill began to intensify All-Star weekend and it didn’t take long for the two sides to find common ground. Neal, 24, was scheduled to be a restricted free agent at seasons end.