Forget all the trade rumors of Matt Moulson going to the Boston Bruins. Forget the talk that the Islanders can't afford Moulson and that he doesn't want to stay on Long Island.Why forget it, you may ask? Well, the Islanders have signed Moulson to a three-year contract extension worth $9.4 million that will kick in after this season.
Moulson, 27, has 29 points (17 goals, 12 assists) in 49 games this season in his second season with the Islanders.
Last year, the North York, ON, native led all Islanders in goals (30), while also establishing career highs in assists (18), points (48) and games played (82). Moulson has yet to miss a game through his two seasons with the Islanders, currently leading the team with 131 consecutive games played.
Moulson decided that the loyalty factor was a big deal and remained loyal to the team that gave him his first real shot in the NHL. Moulson is thrilled to remain on Long Island for the next three years, as he continuously stated that it was the place he wanted to be.
“I’m extremely excited to be a part of the team for the next three years,” Moulson said. “I love this organization. I love the guys that are a part of it. I’m just happy I’m not going anywhere.”
Signing the contract was extremely important to Moulson. It means he’ll get the opportunity to continue working with a team where he has built a strong bond.
“We’re a tight bunch of guys,” Moulson said. “We’re like a family. It’s tough to leave people like that. I love the fans, love the area. I love Long Island. So this is somewhere that I wanted to be, somewhere my wife wanted to be and we’re just extremely excited to be able to be here for the next three years.”
That closeness between the players is what makes this signing even more special. It's also that closeness that enables the guys to want to go to battle for each other every night. As players and teammates, they depend on each other to keep working hard to move the team in the right direction and to hopefully, in the not-to-distant future, bring the Stanley Cup back to Long Island.
“We want to win for each other,” Moulson said. “We’re like a family inside that locker room. Obviously winning is a lot more fun, but when it’s with guys you’re close with, it’s even more special. We’re never going to lose hope, we’re never going to stop working and I think we’re just growing closer and closer each day.”
Moulson being locked up is a great sign for an Islanders franchise that has an uncertain future. The team is in search for a new arena but have been unable to obtain one. Their lease with Nassau Coliseum runs out after the 2015 season.
Signing Moulson was so important for the Islanders because it shows Islanders faithful that their team is committed to keeping and developing their young star talents and that they will not be stopped when they want to pony up some cash for their young guns.
This also keeps their franchise face, John Tavares, very happy because it keeps the best friends together. Tavares and Moulson have been roommates and linemates since they both came to the Islanders and they have developed a chemistry that can't be understated.
With 33 games remaining in the season, Moulson now can put all his focus into setting a new career high in goals - he currently has 17 in 49 games. His previous career high was 30, set last season in Moulson's breakout campaign.
“Hopefully I can just be part of a group of guys that gets this team back into the win column and back in to the winning tradition of the Islanders,” Moulson said. “I’m just honored and thankful to be a part of that. We still have a lot of games to play this season. And I’ve worked on a lot of things to get wins this season. So every single day, for everyone on the team, hopefully we can just continue to grow and mature as players and as a team to develop something special.”
Now that Moulson will be on the Island through 2014, he will have that chance to bring the winning tradition back to Long Island.
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