Fansided

5 players who will go off in the Stanley Cup Final

By Nick McAdam

TAMPA, FL - MAY 23: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates with the Prince of Wales Trophy after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 23, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - MAY 23: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates with the Prince of Wales Trophy after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 23, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 18: Vegas Golden Knights left wing James Neal (18) looks to pass the puck during Game Four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on May 18, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 18: Vegas Golden Knights left wing James Neal (18) looks to pass the puck during Game Four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on May 18, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. James Neal

A journeyman with teams such as the Penguins, Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars and none other than the Golden Knights, Neal likely never would have thought that he’d be in another Cup Final with an expansion team.

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The Predators probably miss the scoring capability of Neal in their lineup. Considering what Neal has been able to do in Nevada, the veteran winger is more than happy with where he is at right now.

Neal, along with several other big names on the Vegas squad, has a good chance to make a big name for himself in the final. The 30-year-old has been instrumental with teams in the past, but not as much as he has been with Vegas this past season.

It may be the best chance for Neal to finally put the Cup over his head. Gerard Gallant allows the winger to play freely at times within the offensive zone. A huge benefit for Neal is that he has the speed around him to get set up in sublime scoring positions while using Gallant’s permission to roam in the slot.

Neal’s versatility and knack for the goal could see him at least score two to three goals alone in this series. A competitor at the other end of the rink with similar instructions in T.J. Oshie, who will most likely drive towards the high-slot area.

Oshie can be a big name as well, but Neal seems to gel with the options around him better. One will surely edge out the other in the Stanley Cup Final, but Neal will surely have an impact on the series, and maybe his career as well.

Next: 3 NHL players who should be very happy about Evander Kane’s contract

Which player on this list will have the best performance in the Cup Final? Any other players that weren’t mentioned that you believe will go off? Let us know in the comments section below.

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