Isles sign Moulson to 3-year, $9.4M deal
Matt Moulson #26 of the New York Islanders celebrates his first period goal against the Florida Panthers with teammates Mark Eaton #4 and John Tavares #91. (Nov. 20, 2010) Credit: Jim McIsaac
On the first day of the league's four-day break for All-Star weekend, Islanders general manager Garth Snow crossed off the first item on his to-do list, signing top-line forward Matt Moulson to a three-year, $9.4-million deal.
When reached by phone last night, Moulson said he was thrilled. "I'm very excited . . . and relieved,'' he said. "Now there won't be any more trade rumors.''
On pace for another solid season, Moulson, 27, recently was linked to Boston in trade rumors. But he was emphatic about wanting to remain a part of the Islanders' future and said he had no interest in testing free agency this summer.
"From the get-go, I told both sides - my agent and [general manager] Garth Snow - where I wanted to be,'' Moulson said. "I didn't want to go into free agency. So there was a commitment from both sides. I want to be a part of the group that turns this back into a winning franchise.''
Snow rewarded him accordingly, signing him as he said he intended to do before the NHL's Feb. 28 trade deadline.
"He's obviously been very productive for us and developed some great chemistry with John [Tavares],'' Snow said. "We're happy to have him for the foreseeable future. The three-year deal is well-deserved and I'm happy we got it done."
There are players around the league who do not want to come to Long Island - after being claimed on waivers by the Islanders last weekend, goaltender Evgeni Nabokov refused to report and was suspended - but Moulson is not among them.
"I think there are some things people don't know about this team,'' Moulson said. "I've told my agent and other people around the league about how we're treated, how they treat our families. and Snow are involved in everything and that filters down to everyone on the team.
"I don't know if I've ever played on as close-knit a team as this one,'' Moulson said. "That's what makes it so fun, once we get wins. The biggest thing for me is the guys. I don't want to be apart from this group.''
And so Moulson will stick with the team that gave him his first real chance after he bounced around for several season within the Los Angeles Kings system.
Moulson had a breakout 30-goal season after signing with the Islanders as a free agent in the summer of 2009 and is on pace for another impressive campaign. The native of North York, Ontario, has 17 goals and 12 assists in 50 games this season. He has yet to miss a single game as an Islander.
"This won't affect how I approach my game,'' Moulson said. "I won't be satisfied until we bring home the Stanley Cup championship.''
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