Logical Breakdown of the Vanek-Moulson Trade

Earlier the Islanders traded Matt Moulson, a first round this year and a second round pick next year for Buffalo Sabres winger Thomas Vanek. Fans are in up-roar moaning about giving up fan favorite Matt Moulson and two picks, some are saying the Islanders got “fleeced”. Before any opinion is made lets try and breakdown the trade very logically.

Before getting down into the actual moving parts of the trade lets just breakdown the players.

Matt Moulson is soon to be 30 years old and an unrestricted free agent. Knowing the GMs in the NHL and similar players, it is very conceivable Moulson could get around 6 million dollars per year in the free agent market. Matt Moulson has played 99% of his ice time with John Tavares since joining the Islanders. He was a no show while playing with Tavares in the playoffs, which forced a line change to remove him from that line. Earlier in this season Moulson was not playing well with Tavares in 5v5 situations, which again forced Head Coach Jack Capuano remove Moulson from that line. Most of the damage Moulson has done this year as been on the power-play, where he has 5 of his 6 goals and 2 of his 3 assists. In other words he is not making plays when the situation is even strength. Moulson is also not known for his skating ability, puck handling ability or his defense. He is essentially a one-dimensional player that doesn’t fit the Islanders current play style.

Thomas Vanek is also a soon to be 30 year old unrestricted free agent. He too is a player that could command around the 6-7 million dollar per year mark in the open market. He too has tallied 9 points on the season. He has 4 goals and 5 assists playing for the inferior Buffalo Sabres. However only 4 of his points have been on the power play and only on of those points are a goal. Vanek is 6-2 220 pound, skilled skater, defender, puck handler the Islanders needed to put with Tavares. Scored 20 goals every year he has played in the NHL and was on pace for 40 goals last year in the shortened season. In short Vanek is the far superior player.

Now to the part everyone seems to be moaning about. The traded of draft picks. The Islanders traded a first and second round pick along with Moulson to get Vanek. Here is a question, would you rather trade prospects instead of the draft picks. Would you rather trade players closer to competing at the NHL level, say a player like de Hann? Or even a player who is currently on the team like a Matt Donovan? The draft picks were the best things the Islanders could have given up. They are unknown players who won’t even begin to contribute to this team for  several years. They will also be road blocked by the core of Islanders already locked up, plus the likes of Andres Lee, Brock Nelson, Ryan Strome, Griffin Reinhardt and Ryan Poulock.

The Islanders traded more than fair vaule for Thomas Vanek. Last year Jerome Iginla was traded for a 1^st round pick and two prospects for LESS games than the Islanders will have Vanek for. The most important piece of the trade is that the Islanders now have the inside track to give Vanek an extension. Vanek will have 70 games or so to see if he truly likes playing with Tavares and the rest of the Islanders crew. If Vanek does choose to re-up with the Islanders, it is no brainer that the Islanders won the trade. The only possibly scenario in which the Islanders lose the trade is if they fail to make the playoffs AND Vanek does not re-up with the Islanders. This was a good trade for the Islanders and it brings them one step closer to making that deep playoff run.

Feisty Islanders Faultier Late, Lose in Shootout

The Islanders made drastic changes to their line-up tonight, and it looked as if it was going to pay off until late in the third period.  Leading 3-2 with just under 2:05 to play the Islanders failed to clear the zone and the Sabers scored a soft goal on Nabokov to tie the game. The Islanders would go up in the shootout 1-0 thanks to Matt Moulson but Nabokov allowed the next two Sabre players to score and the Islanders lost the shootout 2-1. The good news is the Islanders did pick up a point, but they handed the Buffalo Sabres their first win of the season.

Islanders Lose Close Game in Home Opener

October 5

On the second night of a back to back the Islanders lost in a shoot-out after leading for the first two periods. John Tavares picked up two assists, one on a really nice

semi no look backhand pass to the slot to Moulson. Lubomir Visnovsky had the other goal of the game for the Islanders which came on a power play. Nabokov was the goalie again and was fantastic except for a span of 6 minutes where the Blue Jackets scored their two goals. The Islanders lost in the shootout after Moulson once again scored, this time to keep the shootout going. It was a tough one to swallow but the Islanders have to be content with 3 points in their first 2 games.

NHL 13: Islanders-Penguins Game One

Tonight the Islanders and the top seeded Penguins will begin their quarter-final series at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are the heavy favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup, and to win the cup.

The Islanders have been given no chance to win this series because Pittsburgh is far and beyond the most talented offensive team in the NHL. Oh and they have been playing without their golden boy Sidney Crosby, who looks to return during this series, but is likely out tonight.

Before we all watch the real life action that begins tonight at 7:30, let's take a look at how NHL '13 thinks game one will unfold between the two teams.

*Crosby played in this game.

The Islanders held their own in the first period, and jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Michael Grabner off a nice feed from Casey Cizikas. After the goal, the Penguins began to put the pressure on Evgeni Nabakov and the Islanders defense, but the Pens could not capitalize on any of their chances.

The Penguins play carried over into the second period, and dominated puck possession. Five minutes into the period, the Islanders could not clear the zone and they paid for it. Brooks Orpik took a shot from the point that stopped by Nabakov, but James Neal was there to bury the rebound and tie the score at one. Five minutes later Brooks Orpik ripped a shot from the point that found its way through traffic and into the back of the net.

The Islanders offense disappeared in the second period and were held to just two shots on goal. It got worse for the Isles when Kunitz struck from the high slot. Kunitz blasted a slapper past Nabakov to give the Pens a 3-1 , lead after two periods.

The game looked to be over halfway through the third period when Kunitz picked off a pass by Mark Streit in the high slot and ripped it high glove side by Nabakov for a 4-1 Pittsburgh lead. The Islanders cut the deficit to 4-2 with three minutes left when Matt Moulson put home a rebound off of a shot by Marty Reasoner. The Islanders pulled Nabakov with a minute and a half left desperately looking to find some magic, and with 50 seconds left in regulation John Tavares stole the puck from Paul Martin and found Brad Boyes who buried the shot and made it a 4-3 game.

The Islanders again pulled Nabakov right after the face-off and got the puck into the Penguins zone looking for a game-tying tally. After a blocked shot from the point, James Neal skated up the wing and hit the empty net to give the Penguins a 5-3 victory.

If any Islander players or coaches are reading this, take care of the puck in your own zone. Clear the puck when you get the chance, and don't let any offensive opportunities go to waste!

Hopefully NHL '13 is not correct with it's game one predictions, but it will be up to the Islanders to force a different outcome.

Three Stars:

3rd Star: Brooks Orpik 1G, 1A

2nd Star: James Neal 2G

1st Star: Chris Kunitz 2G (Game winner)

Islanders and Rangers Battle in Uniondale

Photo: sportsradiony.com

Tonight's match-up between the New York Islanders and New York Rangers will have all the feel of a playoff game mixed with a heated rivalry. Expect the emotions to run a little bit deeper, the will to win to be a little bit stronger, and the noise in the Coliseum to be that much louder. This late season meeting with both teams in the playoffs and separated by only two points has this game shaping up to be one of the greats. What will the scene be like tonight in Uniondale? To describe in one word...electric.

The Islanders have not made the playoffs since the the 2006-2007 season where they slipped into the final spot on the final day of the regular season. They were ousted in the first round by the top seeded Buffalo Sabres and haven't tasted playoff hockey since. Now this young and energetic team has Islander fans buzzing about a playoff berth, and their team is playing some good hockey at the right time.

The Islanders are 8-2-0 in their last ten games, and had some big wins over teams fighting for a playoff spot. Not only are the Isles scoring goals, they are playing strong defense. In the ten game span the Islanders gave up more than two goals just once. The most impressive win came this past Thursday night up in Beantown. The Islanders shut down the high powered Bruins and held them to just one goal. I know Boston was missing a few players, but that does not take away from the stout defense the Islanders played. Josh Bailey, who has come on strong as of late, netted both goals against the Bruins. The Islanders currently hold the number seven spot in the Eastern Conference right behind the Ottawa Senators and right in front of the Rangers.

The Rangers are playing their best hockey of the season as well right now. Since April 1st, the Blueshirts are 4-1-1, and have out shot their opponents in every game. Newcomers Derick Brassard and Ryane Clowe have added a boos to a Ranger offense that at times looked like they couldn't score on a soccer net. But Tortorella has his team turning things around, and look to make a late push up the playoff ladder.

Derek Stepan and Rick Nash will be targeted all night by the Islanders defense. Nash and Stepan are one and two on the Rangers in points (Nash 35, Stepan 34). As for the Islanders, we all know who the Rangers must keep an eye on, and that's John Tavares and Matt Moulson. In twenty career games against the Rangers, Tavares has 8 goals and 13 assists, including two goals in two games at the Garden this year. The Rangers must also keep an eye on the speedy Michael Grabner who seems to have at least one breakaway every game. There's no room for error on the Rangers defense who has broken down at times and left players wide open in front of the net.

The intensity will be at an all-time high tonight between the Rangers and Islanders. Expect there to be some scrums and maybe a fight, but don't look for a slug fest between these two. Two points, and a stronger hold on a playoff spot are on the line tonight, so the two teams will have to play smart hockey. It is going to be a fun game and a game that let's New York hockey fans know that the hockey rivalry is back, for now at least.   It's going to be loud, it's going to be exciting, it's going to be fun. And did I mention it's going to be loud tonight?

Puck drops at 7 p.m

P.S Ranger fans,

Don't expect the Coliseum to 60-40 or 70-30 in favor of the red, white, and blue tonight. They Islanders have had 17,000 fans filling the seats the past few home games and they are hungry for the playoffs.