Discussing the first blockbuster trade of the season
 |
| Courtesy nhl.com |
The Islanders trade Matt Moulson and picks to Buffalo for the idea of having Thomas Vanek
By Josh Duncan
As I sit down to write this article, Matt Moulson has already scored two goals as a member of the Buffalo Sabres, so the Sabres won this deal and Darcy Regier is the early favourite for Executive of the Year.
Okay maybe we should give it a few days or even a few years before we render a verdict on this deal.
But there’s still plenty of questions surrounding the deal that saw Thomas Vanek shipped from Buffalo to Long Island for Moulson, a first-round pick in 2014 and a second-round pick in 2015.
Okay maybe we should give it a few days or even a few years before we render a verdict on this deal.
But there’s still plenty of questions surrounding the deal that saw Thomas Vanek shipped from Buffalo to Long Island for Moulson, a first-round pick in 2014 and a second-round pick in 2015.
In 2009 the Islanders rebranded when they drafted John Tavares first overall. That was also the last year Vanek scored 40 goals in the NHL. In just over four years Tavares has established himself as one of the best players in the league, while Vanek has floundered in Buffalo as star after star have left the team through trade or free agency.
All of this has led to both teams being in comparable situations with two similar questions being asked. “How good would Tavares be with a legitimate star on his wing,” and “How many goals would Vanek score is he had an elite centre feeding him the puck?” This trade could be a perfect example of killing two birds with one stone, but at what cost?
 |
Courtesy NBC ProHockeyTalk
Buffalo clearly doesn't allow players to put their mouthguards in. |
All of this has led to both teams being in comparable situations with two similar questions being asked. “How good would Tavares be with a legitimate star on his wing,” and “How many goals would Vanek score is he had an elite centre feeding him the puck?” This trade could be a perfect example of killing two birds with one stone, but at what cost?
Moulson developed an obvious chemistry with Tavares since they made their Islanders debut together during the 2009-2010 season. The former 263rd overall pick came out of nowhere to put up 30 goals as a 26 year old in his first full season. Since the duo were put together full time at the start of their second campaign on Long Island, Tavares has been involved in 109 of Moulson’s 166 points.
Not many people that would say Moulson is the better hockey player, but there is no denying the importance of chemistry in hockey. If the Islanders new dynamic duo don’t click and Vanek doesn’t return to his 40 goal form and Tavares remains a point per game player, the Islanders are right back where they started: With an elite centre and one winger who can put up 30 goals. The only issue is that winger makes four million dollars more than their old one and they’re out a pair of high draft picks. And there's no guarantee Vanek stays with the team beyond this year.
Not many people that would say Moulson is the better hockey player, but there is no denying the importance of chemistry in hockey. If the Islanders new dynamic duo don’t click and Vanek doesn’t return to his 40 goal form and Tavares remains a point per game player, the Islanders are right back where they started: With an elite centre and one winger who can put up 30 goals. The only issue is that winger makes four million dollars more than their old one and they’re out a pair of high draft picks. And there's no guarantee Vanek stays with the team beyond this year.
 |
| Courtesy minnesotastuff.com
Minnesota beckons him. For some reason.
|
We won't know the winner of this trade for a while (at least until Buffalo uses their new picks). It’ll come down to a number of factors. Does Vanek click with Tavares and if he does will he re-sign in New York or bolt back to the state of hockey? Is Moulson still a 30-goal scorer in Buffalo or is he just another second liner on a team already full of them? Does Buffalo use those picks to draft the next Claude Giroux or will they throw them away on the next Bobby Sanguinetti? However I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t call a winner so I’ll make the early call and give this one to Buffalo.
For now.
Garth Snow really rolled the dice on this one. A lot is going to have to break the Islanders way for the pros to outweigh the cons on this deal. Vanek is pricier and much more of a flight risk than Moulson. Even if the 29-year-old Austrian decides to re-up with the Islanders and becomes a consistent 40-goal scorer playing alongside Tavares, the Islanders are hypothetically adding only 10 goals a season to a roster that is nowhere near contending for a cup.
Meanwhile, Regier has added another pair of draft picks giving the Sabres seven picks in the first two rounds over the next two years. If Moulson remains a 30-goal scorer in Buffalo, it'll be a bonus, but either way the Sabres replaced Vanek with another talented scorer who they can be either a part of their rebuild or a deal for more futures if he doesn’t fit. It’ll be a long season in Buffalo, but they got a great deal for a player who wanted out of town. If the fans aren’t smiling now they will be when their team is making multiple trips to the podium at the NHL draft in June.
For now.
Garth Snow really rolled the dice on this one. A lot is going to have to break the Islanders way for the pros to outweigh the cons on this deal. Vanek is pricier and much more of a flight risk than Moulson. Even if the 29-year-old Austrian decides to re-up with the Islanders and becomes a consistent 40-goal scorer playing alongside Tavares, the Islanders are hypothetically adding only 10 goals a season to a roster that is nowhere near contending for a cup.
Meanwhile, Regier has added another pair of draft picks giving the Sabres seven picks in the first two rounds over the next two years. If Moulson remains a 30-goal scorer in Buffalo, it'll be a bonus, but either way the Sabres replaced Vanek with another talented scorer who they can be either a part of their rebuild or a deal for more futures if he doesn’t fit. It’ll be a long season in Buffalo, but they got a great deal for a player who wanted out of town. If the fans aren’t smiling now they will be when their team is making multiple trips to the podium at the NHL draft in June.
* * *
Josh Duncan thinks there isn't more to life than being really, really, really, ridiculously good looking. Follow him on Twitter at @Josh10Duncan
No comments:
Post a Comment