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

[redbull]

The weird part about Moulson and what pisses me off so much about the Islanders is this:

Moulson is a good hockey player -great goal scorer, bad in all other areas, so averages out as a limited palyer with a lot of vaue in ONE aspect of the game. He's not been as bad in BUF as some of the numbers indicate but you can plainly see that without a player like Tavares, Mouslon is far less effective in that single area that's his bread and butter.

I heard on TSN from BMcKenzie that Parenteau's on the block, was a healthy scratch last game and even Boyes was a healthy scratch for a terrible FLA team. Successful teams don't like or want one-dimensional players anymore, for good reason. STL has no big scorers, neither does BOS or LA but they have a lot of big/fast/hardworking players who play well defensively and can close out games. The Islanders have very few of them - especially weak defensively and in goal.

So I don't want Moulson back - BUT, what disappoints me is that Snow doesn't replace these guys with BETTER players or even more balanced players, he gets worse. So there's Reasoner, Pandolfo, Boyes, Bouchard, Regin and the players that are supposed to make us better are never brought in. This happens in the NHL and in the AHL and it's no wonder why the teams struggle.

This isn't only Wang's below-cap budget, this is also Snow's lack of recognizing what TYPES of players to bring in, NOR how what coach (playing style) the team needs to play to be successful and he doesn't seem to know how to make adjustments. Not in-season, not in the off-season, not via the draft.

 

[Isles Junkie]

I don't want him for Free. he is such a negative (not talking about +/-) on any line he plays. He needs his teamates to do all of the work for him. He is a power play specialist and absolutely positively nothing more.

 

[Seph]

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.

I think the people who want him back are forgetting just how little Moulson does at ES.

For comparison:
Moulson's 2013-14 ES stats: 49gp 7g 15pts -7
Bailey's 2013-14 ES stats: 50gp 5g 17pts -8

And while Moulson is no doubt a sight better than Bailey on the PP, but he has shown no more that he deserves to play in our top 6 at ES than Bailey has this season, and the majority of posters here do not want Bailey in the top 6, much less on the Tavares' wing, and if they do, it's because we're already stuck with his contract.

The weird part about Moulson and what pisses me off so much about the Islanders is this:

Moulson is a good hockey player -great goal scorer, bad in all other areas, so averages out as a limited palyer with a lot of vaue in ONE aspect of the game. He's not been as bad in BUF as some of the numbers indicate but you can plainly see that without a player like Tavares, Mouslon is far less effective in that single area that's his bread and butter.

I heard on TSN from BMcKenzie that Parenteau's on the block, was a healthy scratch last game and even Boyes was a healthy scratch for a terrible FLA team. Successful teams don't like or want one-dimensional players anymore, for good reason. STL has no big scorers, neither does BOS or LA but they have a lot of big/fast/hardworking players who play well defensively and can close out games. The Islanders have very few of them - especially weak defensively and in goal.

So I don't want Moulson back - BUT, what disappoints me is that Snow doesn't replace these guys with BETTER players or even more balanced players, he gets worse. So there's Reasoner, Pandolfo, Boyes, Bouchard, Regin and the players that are supposed to make us better are never brought in. This happens in the NHL and in the AHL and it's no wonder why the teams struggle.

This isn't only Wang's below-cap budget, this is also Snow's lack of recognizing what TYPES of players to bring in, NOR how what coach (playing style) the team needs to play to be successful and he doesn't seem to know how to make adjustments. Not in-season, not in the off-season, not via the draft.

Is that not exactly what Vanek is? I mean, even though there's no guarantee we re-sign him, I get the impression the trade was made with every intentnion of signing him and that Snow will make every effort to do so.

 

[bigtim1988]

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 darth, good point with the chow reference. honestly, i have a hard time believing moulson gets anywhere near 4-5 million at this point. i think hes showing that he is a guy that relies on putting up numbers if hes next to a player with Tavares type skill, and i think a lot of GM's see that. there is prob some team out there that will overpay him, but im not too sure that will happen

i have a feeling he might end up being "a poor mans johnathan cheechoo"

 

[redbull]

I think the people who want him back are forgetting just how little Moulson does at ES.

For comparison:
Moulson's 2013-14 ES stats: 49gp 7g 15pts -7
Bailey's 2013-14 ES stats: 50gp 5g 17pts -8

And while Moulson is no doubt a sight better than Bailey on the PP, but he has shown no more that he deserves to play in our top 6 at ES than Bailey has this season, and the majority of posters here do not want Bailey in the top 6, much less on the Tavares' wing, and if they do, it's because we're already stuck with his contract.

didn't realize the numbers were that close, though it doesn't surprise me how bad MM was at even strength. I have a few hundred whiny posts saying as much.

I've been harping for Bailey-JT for a while now as well. Not so much because of Bailey's contract, I thought it was best even before the contract. I think their games complement one another really well.

And now that he's struggling so badly, there's even more reason to try them together, the way Arbour would periodically play struggling players with Trottier and Bossy on occasion (as Butch mentioned during a prior broadcast) and something that simply makes sense.

Bailey may end up a Jay Pandolfo, but he's got enough talent that he can still put things together in the right environment, here or elsewhere. One thing's certain, if Bailey put up those number 5on5 without JT, I'd bet the numbers would skyrocket (compared to Moulson) with JT.

i liked the line of Cizikas - JT - Martin for a shift or two vs. BOS. I wasn't sure whether it was simply a post-PP line mixup or whether it was Capuano's attempt to get JT away from Bergeron/Chara.

Is that not exactly what Vanek is? I mean, even though there's no guarantee we re-sign him, I get the impression the trade was made with every intentnion of signing him and that Snow will make every effort to do so.

Yes and no. Vanek IS supposed to be that trade of an established player to help the Isles get better, take the next step. But he's the wrong player at the wrong time. And the amount of money and term it will take to get him here will most assuredly mean we'll be getting maybe 3-4 "good" years out of Vanek, while players that can acutally help the Isles improve (potetially/hopefully) get better (like Pulcok, Reinhart, Strome) - ripening at just the time Vanek's play dimishes and cap stays high, killing our budget-related ability to either sign additional players or pay those second and third contracts.

So back to my point, Vanek doesn't make sense for this team, right now, given all the circumstances of the beloved New York Islanders.

 

[Fantom]

He is not playing that great in Buff no ?

 

[borisbadenough]

God bless him . I hope he gets it and am sure he will either get it or close to it.

 

[doublechili]

I've posted before that I think Snow was on a mission to trade Moulson before contract negotiations got serious. Better to trade JT's buddy for an upgrade than to let him walk or trade him as a rental b/c contract negotiations broke down.

IOW, he ain't coming back.

 

[Fantom]

God bless him . I hope he gets it and am sure he will either get it or close to it.

I guess its just me but i cant see him getting 6M
Hell i don't think he Deserves 5M

 

[OlTimeHockey]

I wonder if Colorado would throw us Parenteau and a defenseman in return for Vanek?

 

[stranger34]

I wonder if Colorado would throw us Parenteau and a defenseman in return for Vanek?

PAP and Hejda... would you do it?

 

[A Pointed Stick]

I wonder if Colorado would throw us Parenteau and a defenseman in return for Vanek?

So you want to give them a nugget of gold in exchange for a lump of coal and the bag it comes in? Is that really you, OTH? I am thinking I missed your invisible somewhere in there.

In general to everyone ~ our progress does not want Parenteau, Moulson, or any other uni-dimensional players anymore. Watching the likes of Moulson or PA flounder or grow out of love at their respective clubs just underscores getting rid of them in the first place. As others have stated well, as many of us have stated numerous times in the past, this club needs to improve. And good GMs do manage to find a way to do that, as much as some in here keep trying to tell me it is "impossible."

 

[seabass45]

I wonder if Colorado would throw us Parenteau and a defenseman in return for Vanek?

Honestly, Colorado would be a nice landing spot for MacDonald. You might be able to do something around PA and A-Mac.

 

[doublechili]

I think our fanbase is suffering from the same syndrome as long-term prisoners who won't even walk out an open door in jail. What is it, learned helplessness or something like that?

PAP again? Seriously?

 

[Darth Milbury]

PAP has been only slightly better than Moulson this year, on pace for about 18 goals and 50 points.

I guess all that stuff about Tavares carrying his linemates turned out to be true.

 

[Paulinho]

PAP seriously? Gross.

 

[redbull]

PAP has been only slightly better than Moulson this year, on pace for about 18 goals and 50 points.

I guess all that stuff about Tavares carrying his linemates turned out to be true.

there was never any doubt about JT carrying them. But the saddest part is how bad they (Moulson, Parenteau, Boyes) were 5on5 and how they really hindered the team. The Isles are still not a strong team defensively and having those one-dimensional forwards just kills the team. Add a bad PP and you've got a recipe for the LOTTERY....well done garth.

Funny how on the main board Pens fans are saying they'd prefer Mouslon, Boyes, Parenteau to Dupuis and Kunitz (well, more Dupuis than Kunitz) but I think all Isles fans would have preferred Kunitz and Dupuis. I certainly would have. Those two warriors attacking on the forecheck and backcheck - JT would have a field day with the additional time/space and o-zone pressure.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

there was never any doubt about JT carrying them. But the saddest part is how bad they (Moulson, Parenteau, Boyes) were 5on5 and how they really hindered the team. The Isles are still not a strong team defensively and having those one-dimensional forwards just kills the team. Add a bad PP and you've got a recipe for the LOTTERY....well done garth.

Funny how on the main board Pens fans are saying they'd prefer Mouslon, Boyes, Parenteau to Dupuis and Kunitz (well, more Dupuis than Kunitz) but I think all Isles fans would have preferred Kunitz and Dupuis. I certainly would have. Those two warriors attacking on the forecheck and backcheck - JT would have a field day with the additional time/space and o-zone pressure.

I don't think you'd find anyone other than the odd nut (every fan base has them) who'd want those guys ahead of Kunitz. However, if this is a reference to my post, speaking from a strictly offensive ability with the puck standpoint, I'd take Moulson or Parenteau over Dupuis on Crosby's wing. My main reasoning is what Kunitz brings to the table makes Dupuis redundant and unnecessary, and so they could get away with a "one dimensional" scorer on the other wing so long as he did just that (ie. score or set up goals). Not Boyes, though. He's useless.

 

[redbull]

I don't think you'd find anyone other than the odd nut (every fan base has them) who'd want those guys ahead of Kunitz. However, if this is a reference to my post, speaking from a strictly offensive ability with the puck standpoint, I'd take Moulson or Parenteau over Dupuis on Crosby's wing. My main reasoning is what Kunitz brings to the table makes Dupuis redundant and unnecessary, and so they could get away with a "one dimensional" scorer on the other wing so long as he did just that (ie. score or set up goals). Not Boyes, though. He's useless.

Fair.

Admittedly, I hated Moulson after Boyes came on board. With a more balanced winger, I liked Moulson's offense, especially on the PP. Ironic that JT's hart nomination came with those two wingers! but I think it was an anomaly. Tavares was a one man show the first half of that season and was scoring so much off the rush, with great, accurate shots. The line disappeared in the second half with Tavares having a few great games here and there, while the 2nd line carried the team.

But with Sid, better, one dimensional wingers might help the offense but would kill the defense. Especially with the Pens stretch-pass offense. Mind you, Sid and Kunitz are pretty good defensively so I do see your point.

The problem is, the game is too fluid, and offense doesn't happen in isolation of defense. So you have costs outweighing benefits with Boyes and Moulson even though they were pretty good on the PP with the extra time and space and the puck on their stick. Too bad the rest of the game was useless.

I was shocked the Pens brought back Dupuis at that price tag to boot. So much for hometown discount. Didn't think the Pens could afford to waste cap space on a completely replaceable winger.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Fair.

Admittedly, I hated Moulson after Boyes came on board. With a more balanced winger, I liked Moulson's offense, especially on the PP. Ironic that JT's hart nomination came with those two wingers! but I think it was an anomaly. Tavares was a one man show the first half of that season and was scoring so much off the rush, with great, accurate shots. The line disappeared in the second half with Tavares having a few great games here and there, while the 2nd line carried the team.

But with Sid, better, one dimensional wingers might help the offense but would kill the defense. Especially with the Pens stretch-pass offense. Mind you, Sid and Kunitz are pretty good defensively so I do see your point.

The problem is, the game is too fluid, and offense doesn't happen in isolation of defense. So you have costs outweighing benefits with Boyes and Moulson even though they were pretty good on the PP with the extra time and space and the puck on their stick. Too bad the rest of the game was useless.

I was shocked the Pens brought back Dupuis at that price tag to boot. So much for hometown discount. Didn't think the Pens could afford to waste cap space on a completely replaceable winger.

I think the team does play a large part in whether or not guys like Moulson or Parenteau can be assets or liabilities. Look at the rumors of Moulson to Los Angeles. A team that is defensively strong like them can afford to have one guy who is defensively weak but who brings something to the table they feel they need more of (scoring winger), because they have the guys around him to insulate his weaknesses.

It's similar to why I do think he'd be an upgrade for the Pens over Dupuis. Crosby and Kunitz are defensively strong enough, and more than that, both very good along the boards, to offset Moulson pretty much being a guy who does nothing but stands in the slot and shoots.

Moulson's weaknesses showed themselves a lot more in New York (and are still apparent in Buffalo) because the team, as a whole, was defensively suspect and thus they just didn't have the kind of defensively strong supporting cast to insulate him. It certainly didn't help matters that the other winger (Boyes) was arguably even worse defensively than he was.

Note: I'm talking about Moulson at today's salary. Not Moulson at $6 million per year, if the rumors are to be believed.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

PAP seriously? Gross.

I think you meant Pap smeariously.

 

[2ndGenIslander]

I was speaking to some delusional Isles fans who think were gonna resign Vanek AND Mouslon. I was just like

 

[Yashin for President]

If Vanek doesn't want to be here then PAP and a prospect is fine with me. Im still a fan of him and he would cost almost half of what Vanek would want anyway. I would put money into a defenseman or a goalie for next season if something like this happened. As much as I like Vanek we need a backup plan just in case he leaves. Sorry to go off topic about Vanek and PAP, Moulson does not deserve more than 4.5 million per.

 

[stranger34]

If we trade Vanek at the deadline and sign Moulson in the offseason I think the whole thing will be all one big no-harm no foul. I'd be ok with it.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

I think the team does play a large part in whether or not guys like Moulson or Parenteau can be assets or liabilities. Look at the rumors of Moulson to Los Angeles. A team that is defensively strong like them can afford to have one guy who is defensively weak but who brings something to the table they feel they need more of (scoring winger), because they have the guys around him to insulate his weaknesses.

It's similar to why I do think he'd be an upgrade for the Pens over Dupuis. Crosby and Kunitz are defensively strong enough, and more than that, both very good along the boards, to offset Moulson pretty much being a guy who does nothing but stands in the slot and shoots.

Moulson's weaknesses showed themselves a lot more in New York (and are still apparent in Buffalo) because the team, as a whole, was defensively suspect and thus they just didn't have the kind of defensively strong supporting cast to insulate him. It certainly didn't help matters that the other winger (Boyes) was arguably even worse defensively than he was.

Note: I'm talking about Moulson at today's salary. Not Moulson at $6 million per year, if the rumors are to be believed.

You can't "hide" those weaknesses. A liability is a liability. Period. In order to utilize his best asset, Moulson has to play top line minutes. And a successful team can't afford to have a player with Moulson's deficiencies on the top line. Perhaps a contender like LA may want him as a rental/PP specialist but I don't see him making significant contributions on a top team.