Monthly Archives: January 2011
“Islanders Interactive” returns, and as always we need your participation. Call 212-246-0416 with your Islanders questions or quick, passionate, respectful commentary on Wednesday between 12:10 and 12:40 pm. Help us build at SNY the only half-hour, two-way Islanders talk show of its kind.
Today begins an occasional segment on what the Islanders can do during the second half of this season to get their very slow and often unsteady rebuild back on track, and have the public feel better about the franchise. We call it The Fix.
Who: Matt Moulson, the Islanders’ 30-goal scorer who could become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
What: The Islanders should lock up the productive, reliable and likable Moulson for three additional seasons.
How Much: $3.5 million per season sounds about right for the rebuilding Islanders to be able to hold on to one of their own for three more years. (More on that later).
When: The Islanders have from now through June 30 to speak with Moulson’s agent exclusively to get a deal done. Contracts could not be agreed to until January 1, 2011 for players like Moulson on one-year deals. If he remains unsigned on July 1, the other 29 teams can talk to his agent.
Why: Because the franchise does not want to take a step back by losing one of its own – a top-six forward with great hands who has the respect of their young core players, including John Tavares.
Key Stat: Since the beginning of last season, Moulson is eighth in goal scoring among NHL left wings. Ahead of him: Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Dany Heatley, Rick Nash, Ilya Kovalchuk, Daniel Sedin, Loui Eriksson.
Background: In canvassing opinions for this post, there was one constant refrain: even to retain the services of a player the Islanders gave an opportunity to and a player who likes it here, the Islanders are going to have to pay “on the high end of the scale” for Moulson. Emailed one agent:
They are still a few years away. No progress on an arena. With what’s happened there this season, they’ll have to pay significantly to keep him if he continues to play well. Moulson has worked hard and this will be his big payday. The Islanders gave him a chance, but he has earned this. I don’t think there is going to be a discount. There shouldn’t be.
Final Analysis: After scoring 30 goals last season, the 27-year-old Moulson is one of the Islanders’ leaders in points and is on pace to score between 25-35 again. For good reason, Islanders management does not see him as a one-season wonder. His all-around game continues to evolve. The Islanders should send a positive message to their players and their fans and sign Moulson to a three-year contract extension. If the Islanders cannot find a way to keep Moulson, faith would take another blow.
Yay or Nay to a three-year extension for Matt Moulson? Have your voice heard. Your answers and reasoning on this specific topic are welcomed in Comments.
Two goals by John Tavares, two by Matt Moulson, an empty-netter by Michael Grabner (his ninth of the season). The Islanders are 7-1-1 in their last nine games. Tavares has 13 points (5 + 8) in those nine games. Travis Hamonic and Andrew MacDonald have been a revelation. Frans Nielsen was injured. Rick DiPietro left during the second period with what the Islanders termed an “adductor strain.” Michael Leighton has next year left on his contract, so it’s tough to see the Islanders adding an injury-plagued veteran just after trading Dwayne Roloson. Kevin Poulin may have to come up for a little while. Nathan Lawson was superb in relief, stopping 28 of 29 over the final 34 minutes. Congratulations to the Lawson family, who dropped this blog a few emails of pride when he was starting out in Bridgeport. They knew Nate would get his chance. Comments.
I spoke with agent Pat Brisson on Friday during practice at the NHL Winter Classic. The story is at AOL FanHouse.
11:00 pm: Islanders confirm trade as reported here. Wishart reporting to Bridgeport.
10:20 pm: Point Blank has learned that the Islanders and Lightning are finalizing negotiations on a trade that would send Dwayne Roloson to Tampa Bay. The Islanders’ return for the 41-year-old would be 22-year old defense prospect Ty Wishart. The 6-4, 215-pound Wishart was San Jose’s first round pick in 2006 and is 4-14-18 in 31 games this season with Norfolk of the AHL. Thread closed.
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