Speculation: Matt Moulson : 6mil on the open market??

[Felix Unger]

ALso It shows how the Isles have money problems so besides for Tavares they don't have great forwards on the team. In other words, every body is just about as good as the next guy, or just as "limited".

I don't know which NHL you're watching, but there aren't a lot of teams out there with multiple dynamic talents.

 

[redbull]

ALso It shows how the Isles have money problems so besides for Tavares they don't have great forwards on the team. In other words, every body is just about as good as the next guy, or just as "limited".

I think having a budget is not an unfair expectation. These are the top ten spenders, the Isles can compete against any of these teams.

1.Philadelphia 2.Detroit 3.Carolina 4.Pittsburgh 5.Boston 6.Toronto 7.San Jose 8.Tampa Bay 9.Montreal 10.N.Y. Rangers

I don't mind the Islanders budget, as long as it's not HALF the cap floor as it was at times over the past two years. Poor spending in a cap/budget environment is a KILLER. Isles are among the smartest spending teams in the NHL, considering their limited budget (not cap space per se).

I also think there's a huge difference between having roster flexibility (versatility) vs the assumption that players are "limited". Moulson is a pure specialist and I'd say he's "limited". Having the flexibility to put players on the ice in any situation is rare (and pretty awesome) in the NHL these days. Isles have a very versatile roster.

Regin, Bailey, Donovan, Nielsen, McDonald, Hamonic, MacDonald, Visnovsky have all been used on BOTH PP and PK so far this season, leaving out Grabs who should be on the 2nd PP and Martin who should also be used in front of the net on the PP at times. These players aren't limited, they are players who the coach can trust in almost any game situation. (Of course, some are better than others. Donovan's young, AMac should never be on the PP imo).

I think Isles fans need to get past the past. Forget the Wang/cheap/back-up goalie GM/Sumo/DP/Yashin nonsense of the past and look at what's right in front of us. This is a very entertaining team AND a very good team. Not great. All teams have holes. But since mid-last year, and the record shows it, they are among the best in the NHL - PERIOD.

Let's stop the bashing of Hickey, Strait, Carkner, Moulson, Okposo and Nabby and enjoy the games.

Like most of us, I watch a lot of hockey and since mid last year, this Isles team is as good as any. (STL-CHI-SJ are exceptional so far this year). I used to post that watching other teams makes the Isles look like they are playing in slow motion. Used to look like an AHL game. But no longer.

I completely agree.

Another thing to keep in mind: one of the really good things about NYI's roster in the moment is their ability to free-flow forwards in and out of lines, roles, and positions. The coach isn't stuck with figuring out how a line exploits a matchup, he can literally ask himself which PLAYER allows him to exploit a matchup, and put that guy on a line. That's what versatile players like Nielsen, Okposo, Bailey, Nelson, Regin, Grabner, Cizikas, and even Martin do. Any of those guys can PP or PK. Any of those guys can play in defensive or offensive roles.

Moulson scores, but he doesn't fit the rest of the team. I don't like a long-term commitment.

Well put. And although this was always true of Moulson, seeing him with Boyes last season made it even more apparent what a problem limited players can be. All teams would like to have a 30 goal scorer, limited or not. Reality is that most NHL players are limited in some way and there are ZERO rosters with 18 "complete" players.

But it comes with a cost AND a price. Both those weigh in a decision on Moulson.

And ONE Moulson is the most you can have if you plan to compete and battle.

 

[The Underboss]

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:9801020

 

[FeedingFrenzy]

So now how much is he worth??

 

[Riseonfire]

I wouldn't break 5 million. 3-4 yrs max.

 

[stranger34]

I wouldn't break 5 million. 3-4 yrs max.

I agree. $4.75M for 4 years I think is fair.

I still think he will get more than that from someone. Maybe like 5.25 for 5

 

[RMimagery]

Can't be interested at that price. Need 2 way players going forward.

And yes, someone desperate for offense will pay him...

 

[stranger34]

I think if the Islanders were serious about winning and spending money then you have both him and Vanek on the team.

I'd love to go to war with these 14 Forwards:

Tavares
Vanek
Okposo
Moulson
Nielsen
Grabner
Bailey
Strome
Nelson
Clutterbuck
Martin
Cizikas
McDonald
Boulton

 

[Kevin27NYI]

I agree. $4.75M for 4 years I think is fair.

I still think he will get more than that from someone. Maybe like 5.25 for 5

David Clarkson got 5.25, Clowe got 4.85. I know those guys add truculence and that carries weight but Moulson has 30 goal seasons on his resume.

 

[Riseonfire]

I think if the Islanders were serious about winning and spending money then you have both him and Vanek on the team.

I'd love to go to war with these 14 Forwards:

Tavares
Vanek
Okposo
Moulson
Nielsen
Grabner
Bailey
Strome
Nelson
Clutterbuck
Martin
Cizikas
McDonald
Boulton

I don't disagree, Moulson would do wonders with our 2nd PP. Moulson Nelson Strome DeHann Bailey isn't a bad unit. Too bad that ship has sailed. MM is too costly for what he brings and I think the trade burnt that bridge.

 

[simbo042]

He'll get $5m no questions asked come July, anything above that will be down to desperation and/or need on the part of a team with a solid defense and in need of goals. Nashville? Who knows...

(Edit: Although Moulson out west might be a train wreck...it gets physical out there!)

 

[MattMartin]

I'm sorry I don't have the link, but I remember reading it's possible he won't even garner a 1st.

 

[LedHammer]

I don't really want Moulson back. He's simply a PP specialist in my opinion and that's just not worth it for what he'll most likely get paid, especially if we resign Vanek and Moulson slots into PP2. Between this season and last he's scored only 14 even strength goals in 95 games. I'd honestly prefer to sign more players in the Nelson/Okposo/Frans mold who can play PP, kill penalties, score and be defensively responsible over players who are simply one dimensional scorers to round out my 2nd/3rd lines. We need more guys who play 3 zones, not just the circles in on offense.
Also, I do resize that neither Nelson or Okposo are on our PK, but simply saying those players could be used on the PK if needed.

 

[A Pointed Stick]

If someone pays him $5 million or more per season they deserve the disappointment that will certainly ensue.

I'd rather have Vanek at $8 million.

 

[bigtim1988]

If someone pays him $5 million or more per season they deserve the disappointment that will certainly ensue.

I'd rather have Vanek at $8 million.

it doesnt help matters that buffalo doesnt have much as far as offensive talent is concerned, but moulson hasnt been too impressive for them , and that kinda solidifys the argument that moulson is a product of Tavares.

 

[Moskau]

it doesnt help matters that buffalo doesnt have much as far as offensive talent is concerned, but moulson hasnt been too impressive for them , and that kinda solidifys the argument that moulson is a product of Tavares.

Up until last week his point production relative to team production was right where it was with the Islanders.

 

[bigtim1988]

Up until last week his point production relative to team production was right where it was with the Islanders.

ehh yeaa, i cant say much, because i havent seen him actually play, but the numbers arent too impressive. i constantly saw moulson score goals simply because he was at the right place at the right time. the consistency was nice, and i liked moulson, but he doesn't create much offense on his own.

 

[Islanders1932]

We could pay 7.5 million for Vanek, 5 million for Moulson and still be 25 million under the cap. Sign Hiller for 6 million and we are 19 million below the cap. Add a top defender or two and wham. Playoffs/Deep run team. If only we had an owner who would spend. And in that scenario we are still millions below the cap.

 

[ScaredStreit]

We could pay 7.5 million for Vanek, 5 million for Moulson and still be 25 million under the cap. Sign Hiller for 6 million and we are 19 million below the cap. Add a top defender or two and wham. Playoffs/Deep run team. If only we had an owner who would spend. And in that scenario we are still millions below the cap.

Bingo! It's ok to overspend a little bit (and let's face it we're the Islanders we have to overspend if we want good players). We've been touting our cap space for years and years now-there's no point in having it if it goes unused.

 

[stranger34]

We could pay 7.5 million for Vanek, 5 million for Moulson and still be 25 million under the cap. Sign Hiller for 6 million and we are 19 million below the cap. Add a top defender or two and wham. Playoffs/Deep run team. If only we had an owner who would spend. And in that scenario we are still millions below the cap.

It's kind of the Wizard of Oz ending moment For Wang and company isn't it...

 

[Darth Milbury]

I am mildly surprised to see anybody here calling for a resigning of Moulson. He was probably the most unpopular 30 goals scorer among Islander fans since Chow. The basic view of him here was that he essentially contributed nothing off of the PP, and was simply johnny-on-the-spot to JT's sweet passing. Most of you felt that he was lost in his own zone, could barely skate, and was incapable of backchecking or hitting. The consensus was that he was holding Tavares back and Tavares would never climb to an elite scoring level with a slow one-dimensional winger like Moulson.

I was not one of those posters. I loved the dude's energy level and did not care how he scored. I also believed that he elevated JT as much as JT elevated him (at least before last season - I thought Moulson was horrendous for most of last year). I was somewhat disappointed when he got dealt.

Having watched him in Buffalo, I now believe I was wrong and you guys were correct. Moulson had 2 goals the night he was traded, he has had 7 goals in close to 40 games since then. Do the math, and that is like a 15 goal pace. I don't care how Buffalo fans spin it, that is pathetic offensive performance for a guy who contributes virtually nothing else in any other facet of the game.

I would far rather ride Nelson, Strome, and even Josh Bailey than Moulson.

I applaud what he accomplished here, and I hope Buffalo turns him into a slew of picks and prospects at the deadline, but have a nice life Matt.

 

[2ndGenIslander]

it doesnt help matters that buffalo doesnt have much as far as offensive talent is concerned, but moulson hasnt been too impressive for them , and that kinda solidifys the argument that moulson is a product of Tavares.

If I had someone to put the puck on my tape in the slot, even I could be a goal scorer in the NHL

 

[Darth Milbury]

If I had someone to put the puck on my tape in the slot, even I could be a goal scorer in the NHL

I wouldn't be that extreme about it. Moulson did have a knack for being in the right spot that is rare.

Still, he had a grand total of 7 ES goals last year. SEVEN. Even as an Islander, he was reduced to nothing but a PP specialist.

 

[RMimagery]

I am mildly surprised to see anybody here calling for a resigning of Moulson. He was probably the most unpopular 30 goals scorer among Islander fans since Chow. The basic view of him here was that he essentially contributed nothing off of the PP, and was simply johnny-on-the-spot to JT's sweet passing. Most of you felt that he was lost in his own zone, could barely skate, and was incapable of backchecking or hitting. The consensus was that he was holding Tavares back and Tavares would never climb to an elite scoring level with a slow one-dimensional winger like Moulson.

I was not one of those posters. I loved the dude's energy level and did not care how he scored. I also believed that he elevated JT as much as JT elevated him (at least before last season - I thought Moulson was horrendous for most of last year). I was somewhat disappointed when he got dealt.

Having watched him in Buffalo, I now believe I was wrong and you guys were correct. Moulson had 2 goals the night he was traded, he has had 7 goals in close to 40 games since then. Do the math, and that is like a 15 goal pace. I don't care how Buffalo fans spin it, that is pathetic offensive performance for a guy who contributes virtually nothing else in any other facet of the game.

I would far rather ride Nelson, Strome, and even Josh Bailey than Moulson.

I applaud what he accomplished here, and I hope Buffalo turns him into a slew of picks and prospects at the deadline, but have a nice life Matt.

Well said and my feelings exactly.

(except for Bailey)

 

[2ndGenIslander]

Bingo! It's ok to overspend a little bit (and let's face it we're the Islanders we have to overspend if we want good players). We've been touting our cap space for years and years now-there's no point in having it if it goes unused.

I wouldn't be that extreme about it. Moulson did have a knack for being in the right spot that is rare.

Still, he had a grand total of 7 ES goals last year. SEVEN. Even as an Islander, he was reduced to nothing but a PP specialist.

hah yea i know i was being a bit sarcastic, but i don't see him having 30+ goal seasons without an elite center working with him