Steelers pinch... again (Neiley returns)

[cjones]

Steelers do what they do best and pinch a player from another team mid season

McKay leaving last week for personal reasons......maybe this was the last straw?

eliteleague.co.uk/2018/11/21/neiley-returns-to-sheffield/

[Deleted]

It's cost them a bit of compo I understand 😉

[Yotes]

So long as it's above board, which it appears to be, then I don't really see the harm. Unfortunate for MK who seem to be having a hard time of it this season, but the comments from their GM don't seem particularly aggrieved.

Makes the Yorks better, which is a shame.

[Pies]

Rumour is 5k for the privilege.

I don’t see any issue with it - Giants and Steelers did it to Caps a couple of seasons ago. It happens.

[EMB]

5k isn't much in the grand scheme of things, wonder if he changed his mind about Sheffield now Thommo has gone.

[iginla]

I don’t like this at all.
What are MK doing letting arguably their best player go to another EIHL team.
If £5k is correct that’s nothing when you take into account it would have cost Steelers money anyway to bring a player in from North America.
To me it shows zero ambition by MK and an unethical attitude by the Steelers towards smaller teams.
What would the Steelers reaction be if Panthers dangled £3k a week in front of O’Connor or Dowd and tempted him away to Nottingham ?

[DMS]

Nov 21, 2018 9:24:04 GMT iginla said:

I don’t like this at all.
What are MK doing letting arguably their best player go to another EIHL team.
If £5k is correct that’s nothing when you take into account it would have cost Steelers money anyway to bring a player in from North America.
To me it shows zero ambition by MK and an unethical attitude by the Steelers towards smaller teams.
What would the Steelers reaction be if Panthers dangled £3k a week in front of O’Connor or Dowd and tempted him away to Nottingham ?

You can’t blame steelers here. In reality they’ve done a favour to MK by paying compensation when Neily could’ve just given notice to leave MK then end up at steelers anyway.

As they say don’t hate the player hate the game.

[ashfieldpanther]

Nov 21, 2018 9:24:04 GMT iginla said:

I don’t like this at all.
What are MK doing letting arguably their best player go to another EIHL team.
If £5k is correct that’s nothing when you take into account it would have cost Steelers money anyway to bring a player in from North America.
To me it shows zero ambition by MK and an unethical attitude by the Steelers towards smaller teams.
What would the Steelers reaction be if Panthers dangled £3k a week in front of O’Connor or Dowd and tempted him away to Nottingham ?

I think there is one very big stumbling block to any top level Brit joining Panthers, and it's nothing to do with money.
In regard to Steelers signing Neiley, to me it shows a) a lack of foresight in them letting him go in the first place, although I believe he was planning to retire, b) a lack of ambition in looking further afield, although that could be tempered by they at least know what they are getting, instead of signing a player that used to play with, for example - Chris Lawrence/David Ling/ etc and c) that Steelers are very good at getting people to come back. Think of how many players they get back after leaving. I believe that probably comes from having a 'Hockey first' GM that knows the game.

[The Flying Shirt]

It’s done in pretty near every sport. I take my hat off to the Steelers for showing that they are determined to improve. They are used to winning.

[kievthegreat]

Nov 21, 2018 11:42:27 GMT DMS said:

Nov 21, 2018 9:24:04 GMT iginla said:

I don’t like this at all.
What are MK doing letting arguably their best player go to another EIHL team.
If £5k is correct that’s nothing when you take into account it would have cost Steelers money anyway to bring a player in from North America.
To me it shows zero ambition by MK and an unethical attitude by the Steelers towards smaller teams.
What would the Steelers reaction be if Panthers dangled £3k a week in front of O’Connor or Dowd and tempted him away to Nottingham ?

You can’t blame steelers here. In reality they’ve done a favour to MK by paying compensation when Neily could’ve just given notice to leave MK then end up at steelers anyway.

As they say don’t hate the player hate the game.

Not necessarily. MK (or any team) would still need to sanction the transfer and his ITC card. If there's any clause about moving to teams in the same league then they could refuse or drag their heels.

I'm also led to believe there's a 'gentleman's agreement' about poaching among the EIHL teams, hence compensation. Things would get messy otherwise with big teams dangling a load if cash in front of faces so they'd hand in notice and pop up in an arena somewhere.

[iginla]

Nov 21, 2018 11:42:27 GMT DMS said:

Nov 21, 2018 9:24:04 GMT iginla said:

I don’t like this at all.
What are MK doing letting arguably their best player go to another EIHL team.
If £5k is correct that’s nothing when you take into account it would have cost Steelers money anyway to bring a player in from North America.
To me it shows zero ambition by MK and an unethical attitude by the Steelers towards smaller teams.
What would the Steelers reaction be if Panthers dangled £3k a week in front of O’Connor or Dowd and tempted him away to Nottingham ?

You can’t blame steelers here. In reality they’ve done a favour to MK by paying compensation when Neily could’ve just given notice to leave MK then end up at steelers anyway.

As they say don’t hate the player hate the game.

Neiley couldn’t just have upped and gone to Steelers, unless MK agreed to it.
What would you say if Steelers came in and took Pither, or whichever player you feel is Panthers best player ?

[wgray]

A good player, but I don’t think he’s the player who is going to help them challenge Belfast and Cardiff. If anything our games against them might be a bit more interesting now as he’s not afraid to drop the gloves.

[Jord v4]

As others have stated no real issues with this. Rules, or lack of rules are there & if Sheffield are smart/aggressive enough to take advantage then fair play to them.

[Deleted]

Nov 21, 2018 14:22:36 GMT wgray said:

A good player, but I don’t think he’s the player who is going to help them challenge Belfast and Cardiff. If anything our games against them might be a bit more interesting now as he’s not afraid to drop the gloves.

This !