You won’t be seeing veteran forward Matt Moulson skating for the Buffalo Sabres when training camp opens on September 13.
How do I know?
To the best of my knowledge, Moulson has not been invited to attend Sabres main camp which begins on September 13.
Moulson is not in Buffalo right now running shinny and drills with his Buffalo Sabres teammates. However, Moulson is still in southern California skating with the LA Kings.
Emerson Etem wearing No.26 at TSC. Matt Moulson skating too (has an arrangement w/Reign).
— Curtis Zupke (@curtiszupke) September 7, 2018
This is a sure sign that Moulson will not be heading eastbound and down to Buffalo. Rather, he will be staying in SoCal.
Another sign of the end of the Moulson Era in Buffalo is the Sabres have already given Moulson’s trademark sweater #26 to rock star rookie Rasmus Dahlin.
The split between the Sabres and Moulson was awkward. Moulson hasn’t laced up his skates for the Sabres nor Amerks since last December 1st. At that time, Moulson was loaned to the AHL Ontario Reign after he passed through waivers without being claimed by another NHL club.
Moulson, 34, proved to the Reign and Kings brass that he still has gas left in his tank. Moulson generated 46 points in the 48 games he played after joining the Ontario club. Moulson found the fountain of youth in The A when most observers had unfairly concluded that his days were numbered in pro hockey.
Moulson will be a $3.975M AAV this season which the Sabres have accounted for. He will be an unrestricted free agent in July 2019.
Burying Moulson in the minors is freeing up TOI and salary cap space for Jason Botterill to invest in young Sabres players.