We have seen much worse... I still don't get all the hate for A Mack.. He isn't AS good as Isles think.. but he isn't as bad as u think either. Good Goaltending can solve a lot of problems. Nabby has been horrendous.

Our backline is desperate for some guys who can clear the crease AND skate.. the only one who comes close to that is hamonic. The rest of our guys are good players but need to be paired with a big Bodied solid D-man. We don't have that.. We have teams crashing the net every game. It has to be addressed... (sorry about last thread.. didn't realize u always like Neilsen.. ).

What is lost in all of this is just how well our fowards are playing. Most of the guys on here complaining about Moulson ... while I agree he needs to back check better and be MUCH better in his own end (Again these are problems that would be less obvious with a decent goalie and some crease clearing D-men)... u are not giving him enough credit for his ability to put the puck in the net. He goes to the net.. not around it or behind it.. and has good enough and quick enough hands to score. This is not an easy thing to find. We have had TONS of talented guys that could not do this extrememly important task. I could list 20 of them off the top of my head. I would be very upset to see Matt Moulson on another team. This isn't a Jason Blake that will neve score 30 again... he will score with another team..just as much.
- niteislander

No worries I think a lot of people assume because of my displeasure with some of what this team brings it emcompasses the whole team which couldn't be further from the truth. As far as Moulson goes I disagree with you. I don't believe he would score half the goals unless he was playing with an elite center. I also believe on a really good team and a fanbase that maybe expects more from their players his deficiencies would be more glaring. Combine that with whatever inflated salary he may get and it'd be a recipe for disaster.

I don't think it's likely we'll bring anyone in because it's not the model on how they're operating. Everything is being bread from within. Your eventual LW 1st line player is likely either Nelson or Moulson. RW Strome. The Isles will continually develop everything from within while signing plug and plays to hold the spots for whatever other prospects are expected to arrive in the near future. Now once the team is within reach of contendership, that may change. I'd hope that changes in 2015, which means a 5-6 year extension at $5-$6 million per season for Moulson needs to be completely avoided at all costs. That's been the point all along.
- keaner17

fixed

If we have no capable upgrade we sign him. Remember when nobody wanted PA and look at him now.
- mighty13duck

to a 5 or 6 year contract at 5 to 6 million per yr?!?!?!? I'd rather this team wallow in shat for another year then be handcuffed to a deteriorating Moulson who just isn't a great hockey player in the first place. The though of him being on the first line for another 5 years makes me nauseous.

Because he wants to stay. His wife's family lives where lives now. I'd be surprised if the Isles don't retain him, especially if he keeps up his current play. Guy is playing great right now.
- Isles316

He had a good game yesterday lets not get ahead of ourselves. He was demoted and rightfully so.

So you're confident he'll forgo possibly 3 years and $18 million dollars?
Players always want to 'stay'. Matt has a lot of friends around the league. I think he'd manage to move on easier than you think if it meant financial security.
If you're right and he's willing to make a huge financial sacrifice to stay, then by all means, 3 years is a great deal. I have my doubts.
- keaner17

I seem to remember most of this board thinking PA would be a shoe in and take a home town discount because we were the team that gave him his chance? I found that funny at the time, almost as funny as Moulson signing for jack shat. These guys play hockey for millions, it's how they make a living and they live well. Their agents and them aren't going to take pay cuts when they feel they're due because of Islander pride. JT is an anomoly and you can bet your a$$ he'll be getting set for a huge raise come FA. Moulson is a one trick pony and anyone knows this is his only shot for a pay day and you can bet your a$$ he's going to take it.

He had a good game yesterday lets not get ahead of ourselves. He was demoted and rightfully so.
- Cptmjl

Moulson has 0 points without JT thus far. JT is on a career best pace. It's way early, but it sure looks like Moulson needs JT more than JT needs Moulson. That rightaway will the Isles key barginning approach w/ Moulson. It could be a tough negotiation.

look at this isles team.....they have to be the smallest in the league
- kindlyrick

They are

I seem to remember most of this board thinking PA would be a shoe in and take a home town discount because we were the team that gave him his chance? I found that funny at the time, almost as funny as Moulson signing for jack shat. These guys play hockey for millions, it's how they make a living and they live well. Their agents and them aren't going to take pay cuts when they feel they're due because of Islander pride. JT is an anomoly and you can bet your a$$ he'll be getting set for a huge raise come FA. Moulson is a one trick pony and anyone knows this is his only shot for a pay day and you can bet your a$$ he's going to take it.
- Cptmjl

Exactly. There is a limited window for pro sports atheletes to earn their money and Moulson is at the peak of his earning power. If he takes 3 years @ $4 million, his agent should be strung up....
Moulson has very close friends on several teams...lots of places to go.

Moulson has 0 points without JT thus far. JT is on a career best pace. It's way early, but it sure looks like Moulson needs JT more than JT needs Moulson. That rightaway will the Isles key barginning approach w/ Moulson. It could be a tough negotiation.
- keaner17

Thanks for that captain obvious(bold) . I was thinking that same thing. They are being a little hard nosed with him as far as where he plays for that exact reason(so they can negotiate on the cheap) which will be beneficial in every way IMO whether it's right or not . I don't like it in all seriousness bcs it screams bush league BS but I love Moulson on the third line

Exactly. There is a limited window for pro sports atheletes to earn their money and Moulson is at the peak of his earning power. If he takes 3 years @ $4 million, his agent should be strung up....
Moulson has very close friends on several teams...lots of places to go.
- keaner17

Even if he didn't and everyone hated him on other teams he'd take a significantly higher salary from another team if Snow nickled and dimed him. Get real boys.

We have seen much worse... I still don't get all the hate for A Mack.. He isn't AS good as Isles think.. but he isn't as bad as u think either. Good Goaltending can solve a lot of problems. Nabby has been horrendous.

Our backline is desperate for some guys who can clear the crease AND skate.. the only one who comes close to that is hamonic. The rest of our guys are good players but need to be paired with a big Bodied solid D-man. We don't have that.. We have teams crashing the net every game. It has to be addressed... (sorry about last thread.. didn't realize u always like Neilsen.. ).

What is lost in all of this is just how well our fowards are playing. Most of the guys on here complaining about Moulson ... while I agree he needs to back check better and be MUCH better in his own end (Again these are problems that would be less obvious with a decent goalie and some crease clearing D-men)... u are not giving him enough credit for his ability to put the puck in the net. He goes to the net.. not around it or behind it.. and has good enough and quick enough hands to score. This is not an easy thing to find. We have had TONS of talented guys that could not do this extrememly important task. I could list 20 of them off the top of my head. I would be very upset to see Matt Moulson on another team. This isn't a Jason Blake that will neve score 30 again... he will score with another team..just as much.
- niteislander

amac is allergic to contact
moulson is a garbage man

I think you've completely missed the point that most of us have been making with Moulson. No one has disputed that he is an extremely effective goal scorer. No one has even said they don't want him here. The overall comment, or at least my point, has been I'm not sure I want Matt to be our top line forward for the next 4-6 years and given his skillset, he's not going to be near as much use anywhere else. Moulson is scoring on the power play right now which keeps his value high. The problem is he'll then not score for 10 games and be utterly usesless in every other facet of the game.
The constant comment from people is that '30 goal scorers don't grow on trees' though I'd contend that just like Jason Blake wasn't a true 40 goal scorer (or even 30) Moulson is unlikely to be a 30 goal scorer anywhere other than JT's wing. Elite players CREATE 30 goal scorers. Lemieux turned an AHL player into a 50 goal scorer. And while some may turn to PA as the example, PA went from one elite forward to another. Duchene is a monster (anyone see that goal he had?) That said, if you could have a guy in Moulson's place who could score 30 AND play defense, AND skate, AND pass effectively, you'd have to consider that upgrade. Therefore the question of extending him has to be taken into consideration with those shortcomines and accurate value
- keaner17

I do actually see your points I promise.. I just don't agree with them.. sorry. While I do think Moulson being on JT's wing make his numbers go up.. .I think he deserves that spot b/c he is an ELITE scorer. How many other guys do we see on JT's wing that are not quick enough, or skilled enough to put the puck in the net. Yes, I understand the JT aspect... I just think that JT needs Moulson as much as Moulson needs JT. ... If he is not paid, extended, etc. We will regret it. Guys with hands that good, an off season work ethic that good, and a friendship/comradarie with JT that good... do not come a long often.. sorry.

(you forgot to mention LeClair on Lindros' wing).

I don't consider any of them likely signings, but UFA's next year:
Gaborak
Heatley
Vanek
Marleau
there's a pretty decent list of UFA's next year. It all depends on Moulson's asking price and flexability.
I'm not saying these guys excell in ALL of those categories, but they are IMO upgrades on Moulson.
- keaner17

Gaborik doesn't play defense either.. fyi.

Moulson has 0 points without JT thus far. JT is on a career best pace. It's way early, but it sure looks like Moulson needs JT more than JT needs Moulson. That rightaway will the Isles key barginning approach w/ Moulson. It could be a tough negotiation.
- keaner17

Tell that to JT after Grabner, Bouchard et. al miss wide open nets.

amac is allergic to contact
moulson is a garbage man
- LetsGoIsles

2 idiotic comments... "Garbage man".

I do actually see your points I promise.. I just don't agree with them.. sorry. While I do think Moulson being on JT's wing make his numbers go up.. .I think he deserves that spot b/c he is an ELITE scorer. How many other guys do we see on JT's wing that are not quick enough, or skilled enough to put the puck in the net. Yes, I understand the JT aspect... I just think that JT needs Moulson as much as Moulson needs JT. ... If he is not paid, extended, etc. We will regret it. Guys with hands that good, an off season work ethic that good, and a friendship/comradarie with JT that good... do not come a long often.. sorry.

(you forgot to mention LeClair on Lindros' wing).
- niteislander

I agree. Nobody has come close to Moulson's goal numbers when on JT's wing. Not Okposo, Bailey, Boyes or PAP. That being said, its going to be a tough negotiation. He's not worth 5 years 30 million, but we'd have to see what he would take. What if he was offered 4 years 20 million, would he take it?

2 idiotic comments... "Garbage man".
- niteislander

i welcome your comments with open arms...

Martinek with a one year deal

I agree. Nobody has come close to Moulson's goal numbers when on JT's wing. Not Okposo, Bailey, Boyes or PAP. That being said, its going to be a tough negotiation. He's not worth 5 years 30 million, but we'd have to see what he would take. What if he was offered 4 years 20 million, would he take it?
- David_Volek

If moulson wants 5 mill a year for 3 years I don't have an issue with it. They will not give him as much as JT but he is worth a lot. Maybe I have just watched this team longer than u guys but I remember a LOT of guys with tons of talent that just could not score consistently at this level We all Assume Brock Nelson will score 40 or 50 goals on JT's wing..I hope u are right I am just not as confident. when u saw Moulson's second goal THAT was a thing of beauty a goal scorer's goal..

2 idiotic comments... "Garbage man".
- niteislander

Sorry I just don't see what you see with Amac, he is replaceable. On the moulson front i will be ok either way they go with him.

i welcome your comments with open arms...
- LetsGoIsles

now I am singing Creed...

Sorry I just don't see what you see with Amac, he is replaceable. On the moulson front i will be ok either way they go with him.
- Dan Petriw

I don't have him as kenny Johnson but he is not terrible. He is playing on our top pairing playing about 30 minutes a game. He makes mistakes.. I would argue he would make less if we were not leaning on the guy so much to play every shift.

now I am singing Creed...
- niteislander

That's by far the most offensive thing I have read on here in years

Martinek signs, that means Donovan getting benched. wonderful.

Actually it probably means that Viz injury worse than expected.

Moulson should not be resigned for the money he will want. If isles let PAP walk, they should definitely not resign Moulson unless he taken a pay decrease.

Dont let moulson fool you. He is excellent PP guy but terrible 5 on 5. his goal last nigh was pretty sweet though.

now I am singing Creed...
- niteislander

mission accomplished




are the rumors true? is radek back?