James Neal originally was planning to take the weekend off. But suddenly, he was called to work.
Playing 3-on-3 hockey for a million bucks shouldn’t sound like work. And in reality, it wasn’t a chore for Neal and the other 43 participants in the 2016 NHL All-Star Game.
Neal, the Golden Knights’ leading scorer, was a member of the Nashville Predators in 2016 when the league brought its midseason showcase event to Music City. The forward was added to the roster when Chicago’s Jonathan Toews pulled out with an injury.
One of four Predators playing before their hometown fans at Bridgestone Arena, Neal scored twice for the Central Division, which lost to the Pacific Division in the semifinals.