Absolutely. Actually, I think Moulson is the same exact player he has been since getting a chance on the Islanders. His increasing point totals are probably directly related to Tavares' development...the better JT gets at finishing and distributing, the more points Moulson gets.
- UIF

And it works the other way as well. As MM gets better..

Matt Moulson is on dimensional!!!

But it's a good dimension to have!!!

Just stand around the net and pick up scrap from JT!!!

Need some speed on that line, somebody to get the puck to Tavares!!!

Maybe a little crash and bang... any suggestions???

Matt Moulson is on dimensional!!!

But it's a good dimension to have!!!

Just stand around the net and pick up scrap from JT!!!

Need some speed on that line, somebody to get the puck to Tavares!!!

Maybe a little crash and bang... any suggestions???
- jimmc7722

I would play Matt Martin with them on the PP. Tell the 2 M&M's to stand in front of the net, and bang in rebounds.

Can you imagine if this lineup will be like this in December or Jan???

I think it is a good idea to trade one of our players because we got a problem. If we want to start Lee, Nelson and Strome then we have to get rid of some players. I think it is best for us to trade Moulson. I know Tavares loves him so much but this is business as well. Trade Moulson for prospects or draft picks. Send him to a team that might win the cup so all of us will be happy. Trade Moulson or JMB

Bailey Tavares Strome
JMB Nelson Okposo
Grabner Nielsen Clutterback/Regin
Martin Cizikas Mcdonald

Hamonic Visnoyowsky
Macdonald Donovan
Strait Hickey

Poulin
Nabby

I would still liike to see Clutterbuck on JT's line.. and I would like to have 4 lines that are all very good (is that wrong?) and all have some toughness. Here is my fantastic 4

Moulson/ JT/ Clutterbuck (ok)
Ok/ Strome/ Bailey(PMB)
Grabner/ Neilsen/ MM (Bailey)
Brock(MM)/ Casey/ McDonald

I know u will all go nuts on Brock on 4th line and Cal on first. .. but like I said I would love to see Scoring and toughness on all 4 lines. Putting Brock with Casey is not the same as throwing Nino in with Pando and Reasoner . Casey can create and score.. and I am tired of JT getting murdered every shift. Put Clutterbuck, MM, or even Ok if he will stop the cheap shots on top line with him. JT needs his Gillies.

Yep. I think Regin was signed to take Keith Aucoin's spot. Garth seems to be very big on specific roles to the team and finds players with similar skillsets to fill those roles. Regin is likely here, at least in the immediate future, as Keith's replacement. I think Nelson may be asked to shift to wing. We'll see.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

Could have been signed to take Reasoner's spot on the fourth line also, and let Cizikas play wing. Nelson can center the 3rd line and Regin the 4th. It will be interesting to see the line combinations come October.

Absolutely. Actually, I think Moulson is the same exact player he has been since getting a chance on the Islanders. His increasing point totals are probably directly related to Tavares' development...the better JT gets at finishing and distributing, the more points Moulson gets.
- UIF

I thought last season his defensive deficiencies were a lot more obvious. Most of this board was b!tching about him for most of the season. I'm surprised because half the people singing his praises on here lately were amongst the people complaining. If you can't replace his points you don't trade him but if there is a better option sign me up. The guy straight out gave up on plays going back the other way and at times looked plain lazy in the offensive zone. At times he was far worse than Boyes as seen by his getting booted off the first line. It's OK to an extent to be one dimensional but his lapses at times were terrible. I'd be happy with Bailey back on the first line, seemed to work to me.

I would still liike to see Clutterbuck on JT's line.. and I would like to have 4 lines that are all very good (is that wrong?) and all have some toughness. Here is my fantastic 4

Moulson/ JT/ Clutterbuck (ok)
Ok/ Strome/ Bailey(PMB)
Grabner/ Neilsen/ MM (Bailey)
Brock(MM)/ Casey/ McDonald

I know u will all go nuts on Brock on 4th line and Cal on first. .. but like I said I would love to see Scoring and toughness on all 4 lines. Putting Brock with Casey is not the same as throwing Nino in with Pando and Reasoner . Casey can create and score.. and I am tired of JT getting murdered every shift. Put Clutterbuck, MM, or even Ok if he will stop the cheap shots on top line with him. JT needs his Gillies.
- niteislander

Outside of JT not much actual skill on that top line.

Outside of JT not much actual skill on that top line.
- gaf92

I'm shocked whenever someone creates lines that nobody has Bailey on it, that's how they finished the season and went into the playoffs with and they looked good. Unless Strome are ready and look like clear cut NHL'ers than I'd start the season with Bailey.

I'm shocked whenever someone creates lines that nobody has Bailey on it, that's how they finished the season and went into the playoffs with and they looked good. Unless Strome are ready and look like clear cut NHL'ers than I'd start the season with Bailey.
- Cptmjl

We should try playing JT on the third line this year.. just for Sh!ts and giggles!

XxNYIxX

Can you imagine if this lineup will be like this in December or Jan???

I think it is a good idea to trade one of our players because we got a problem. If we want to start Lee, Nelson and Strome then we have to get rid of some players. I think it is best for us to trade Moulson. I know Tavares loves him so much but this is business as well. Trade Moulson for prospects or draft picks. Send him to a team that might win the cup so all of us will be happy. Trade Moulson or JMB

Bailey Tavares Strome
JMB Nelson Okposo
Grabner Nielsen Clutterback/Regin
Martin Cizikas Mcdonald
Hamonic Visnoyowsky
Macdonald Donovan
Strait Hickey

Poulin
Nabby
- ISLES1119

No question we are running out of room. I thought the JMB signing was strange with these forward prospects knocking on the door. I thought adding D was more important. I would not have a problem moving Moulson. I love the Bailey signing and would not mind him on the 1st line again.

No question we are running out of room. I thought the JMB signing was strange with these forward prospects knocking on the door. I thought adding D was more important. I would not have a problem moving Moulson. I love the Bailey signing and would not mind him on the 1st line again.
- ses111

I'm thinking that Strome centres Bailey and Okposo. He would get a lot of support plus no pressure to preform on the JT line. That said we all know how much everyone wants Neilson to drop to the third line.

I thought last season his defensive deficiencies were a lot more obvious. Most of this board was b!tching about him for most of the season. I'm surprised because half the people singing his praises on here lately were amongst the people complaining. If you can't replace his points you don't trade him but if there is a better option sign me up. The guy straight out gave up on plays going back the other way and at times looked plain lazy in the offensive zone. At times he was far worse than Boyes as seen by his getting booted off the first line. It's OK to an extent to be one dimensional but his lapses at times were terrible. I'd be happy with Bailey back on the first line, seemed to work to me.
- Cptmjl

Well, obviously...you can say that about any player on any team. I'm actually surprised this many are willing to toss Moulson to the curb while putting players on pedestals who either never have reached 20 goals or struggle to do so in careers just as long as Moulson's. If those guys were to find consistency and start putting up numbers near Moulson's while also adding other dimensions, then I'd be all for giving them his spot and trading Moulson away. Maybe that will happen this season.

But we were ready to hand the keys to the kingdom to this same crowd before the '11-'12 season after the way they finished the season before, and they disappointed. Moulson was one of few who met expectations that year. Just not ready to hand away his spot on the team because a couple of guys played two nice months of hockey.

Well, obviously...you can say that about any player on any team. I'm actually surprised this many are willing to toss Moulson to the curb while putting players on pedestals who either never have reached 20 goals or struggle to do so in careers just as long as Moulson's. If those guys were to find consistency and start putting up numbers near Moulson's while also adding other dimensions, then I'd be all for giving them his spot and trading Moulson away. Maybe that will happen this season.

But we were ready to hand the keys to the kingdom to this same crowd before the '11-'12 season after the way they finished the season before, and they disappointed. Moulson was one of few who met expectations that year. Just not ready to hand away his spot on the team because a couple of guys played two nice months of hockey.
- UIF

Of course. I'm not willing to toss Moulson to the curb nor am I putting anyone on a pedestal nor am I getting high on a few good months. As far as consistency goes I don't know who you're referring to when you say "those guys" but I'll guess Bailey is included in that? As far as he is concerned he plays a pretty consistent two way game and his offense is starting too look better maybe not numbers wise but it looks like that will start changing? Yeah, I know. we've heard this one before but the one thing Bailey does do is back check and play more of a multi-dimensional game. I can't say the same for Moulson. The guy has put up points. I'm not bashing the guy but he looked a lot like Boyes for too many games last year. Who knows? Maybe it was Boyes facking with the chemistry of that line I have no idea. I'm not here to bash the guy and I'm not saying dump him unless there is a realistic option. He's in his contract year this season and hopefully we see some improvement in his overall game? I just don't think he's a long term option for this team. He doesn't seem to play much of a "team game". When other players even "those players" were back checking and clogging the neutral zone and forechecking Moulson wasn't. It was noticed by every single person on this board and was a topic for quite a bit of last season as well as in the PO's.
Don't misunderstand what I'm saying or exaggerate it either. The guy has some deficiencies in his game that were at times glaring. I wasn't the only one who thought that. I'm hoping he improves this coming season not just in the points dept. but his overall game. I just can't see him being a 5 year option like Bailey with the type of style this team seems to be grabbing a hold of. Forecheck and puck possession are definitely not a strong suit of Moulson's.

We should try playing JT on the third line this year.. just for Sh!ts and giggles!

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Guy should ride the pine till he's traded

Matt Moulson is on dimensional!!!

But it's a good dimension to have!!!
- jimmc7722

He has what the old Strat-o-Matic game used to call "offensive awareness"- the thing that makes him worth more to us than he would have in trade value is familiarity with Tavares. Once you separate that, the skating and the defense become less impressive than they already are....Czerkawski used to score 30 goals, too. That said, the idea that one always seems to know where the other one is probably going to be on the ice is invaluable, and makes him the perfect player for one wing on that line, as long as he can do enough of a job defensively so as not be a detriment. The real issue is that we need someone else for that line. I'm pretty sure that eventually will be Strome. Failing that this year, however, I have to go with Bouchard. Again, the job of that line is to score- as long as they don't cost us games in their own end, they are good to go.

That said- I'm still trying to figure out why anyone thinks that Nielsen-Okposo-Bailey won't at the VERY LEAST start the pre-season as one of our lines, provided someone doesn't get traded. I just don't see any reason to break that up just yet...

That said- I'm still trying to figure out why anyone thinks that Nielsen-Okposo-Bailey won't at the VERY LEAST start the pre-season as one of our lines, provided someone doesn't get traded. I just don't see any reason to break that up just yet...
- dcb1

It was already broken up last year

We should try playing JT on the third line this year.. just for Sh!ts and giggles!

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Bury JT on the fourth line. He's only a two dimensional player and everybody knows that the real world exists in three dimensions. He's overrated.

It was already broken up last year
- Cptmjl

True- he did try and throw one of those guys on the JT line here and there, because that line was slumping badly (mostly because Boyes was worthless- which was the point of my other post......and OF COURSE the guy he moved was Moulson ), and Okposo especially was red hot, but they still played together, especially when they really needed someone to outwork the other team and shut them down. Capuano was just trying to spread the wealth, which never works.....I'd just like to see the things that work stay as they are, for once....

Bury JT on the fourth line. He's only a two dimensional player and everybody knows that the real world exists in three dimensions. He's overrated.
- eichiefs9

Yeah, he can only skate, pass, score and defend the center ice position, He doesn't win every face off, so who needs him?......Thank God Dinglebury isn't here anymore....I don't like his attitude....I'll trade him straight up for Vinny Prospal...he's got a few good years left in him.....

Lou found a loophole to get out of the Kovy contract without paying him!!!
- jimmc7722

Yeah, they should deduct another first rounder for circumvention of the cap. If, indeed, he knew about it and figured it out, then there needs to be an investigation and a sanction against them. They're the one's that did this original contract and where penalized for doing so. I don't feel sorry for Lou and the Devils, they did it to themselves.

He has what the old Strat-o-Matic game used to call "offensive awareness"- the thing that makes him worth more to us than he would have in trade value is familiarity with Tavares. Once you separate that, the skating and the defense become less impressive than they already are....Czerkawski used to score 30 goals, too. That said, the idea that one always seems to know where the other one is probably going to be on the ice is invaluable, and makes him the perfect player for one wing on that line, as long as he can do enough of a job defensively so as not be a detriment. The real issue is that we need someone else for that line. I'm pretty sure that eventually will be Strome. Failing that this year, however, I have to go with Bouchard. Again, the job of that line is to score- as long as they don't cost us games in their own end, they are good to go.
- dcb1

Strat!!!!!