Matt Moulson

Matt Moulson

Moulson in April 2016.
Born (1983-11-01) November 1, 1983
North York, ON, CAN
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Buffalo Sabres
Los Angeles Kings
New York Islanders
Minnesota Wild
NHL Draft 263rd overall, 2003
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 2006present

Matthew Keith Moulson (born November 1, 1983) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Moulson was drafted in the ninth round, 263rd overall, of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Currently in his second stint with the Sabres, he has also played in the NHL for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders and Minnesota Wild.

Playing career

Junior

Moulson grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, playing minor hockey for A Erindale, AA York Toros, AAA North York Canadiens, AAA Mississauga Senators, AAA Markham Islanders, AAA Mississauga Reps and at Midget for the AA Mississauga Braves of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL). He also attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School in Mississauga, where he was a part of the school's hockey team.[1]

After his midget career, Moulson signed with the Guelph Dominators Junior B club of the Midwestern Ontario Junior B League (OHA) for the 2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons. In the following four years, Moulson attended Cornell University to play for the Big Red ice hockey team of the ECAC Hockey conference.

Whilst playing for Cornell, Moulson was drafted 263rd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. In 2006, he graduated from Cornell, where he served as team captain of the hockey team and was a member of the Quill and Dagger society in his senior year.

Professional

Moulson during his tenure with the Islanders.

Moulson signed with the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent on an entry-level contract on September 1, 2006.[2] He was then assigned to the Kings' minor league affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League (AHL), for the 2006–07 season, where he registered 57 points in 77 games. He made his NHL debut in the 2007–08 season on November 2, 2007, against the San Jose Sharks. Moulson also scored his first career NHL goal in the 5–2 Kings victory.[3]

On July 6, 2009, Moulson signed a one-year contract with the New York Islanders.[4] He was a leading scorer in the NHL pre-season and made the team out of camp as a linemate of John Tavares. He scored his first NHL hat-trick — a natural hat trick — on December 3, 2009, against the Atlanta Thrashers.

On July 27, 2010, Moulson signed a one-year, $2.45 million contract extension with the Islanders just minutes before his arbitration hearing was scheduled to begin.[5] On January 27, 2011, he then signed a three-year, $9.45 million contract extension with New York.[6]

After the 2011–12 season, Moulson became the first New York Islander since Žigmund Pálffy to post three consecutive 30-goal seasons. On May 16, 2013, Moulson was named a finalist, along with Patrick Kane and Martin St. Louis, for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.

On October 27, 2013, Moulson and a 2015 first- and second-round draft pick were traded by the Islanders to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Thomas Vanek.[7] Moulson scored two goals in his first game as a Sabre in a 4–3 losing effort to the Dallas Stars.

Moulson and Sabres forward Cody McCormick were then both traded to the Minnesota Wild on March 5, 2014, in exchange for Torrey Mitchell, a 2014 second-round pick (acquired from Winnipeg) and Minnesota's 2016 second-round pick (later traded to Montreal for Josh Gorges).[8]

On July 1, 2014, Moulson signed as a free agent to return to the Buffalo Sabres on a five-year contract worth $5 million per year.[9]

Personal life

Moulson married Alicia Backman on July 3, 2010. Alicia's sister, Jaclyn, is the wife of current Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick. Moulson's sister Shannon played her NCAA college ice hockey for the Niagara Purple Eagles women's ice hockey program and currently competes in the Canadian Women's Hockey League for the Toronto Furies. Moulson's brother Chris played for two years at Cornell University, Matt's alma mater, and now plays at Acadia University.

The couple have two children together, their first child, Mila Toni, was born August 6, 2012[10] and the couples second child, George Benjamin, was born October 11, 2013.[11] Former Islanders teammate John Tavares is the godfather of Moulson's daughter, Mila and Kyle Okposo is the godfather of Moulson's son, George, who is also believed to be named after Alicia's own godfather George McPhee.[12]

Moulson is also a lacrosse player; in fact, he was drafted higher in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) than in the NHL, being selected in the fourth round, 37th overall, by the Rochester Knighthawks.[13]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02 Guelph Dominators MWJHL 42 56 46 102 80
2002–03 Cornell Big Red ECAC 33 13 10 23 22
2003–04 Cornell Big Red ECAC 32 18 17 35 37
2004–05 Cornell Big Red ECAC 34 22 20 42 33
2005–06 Cornell Big Red ECAC 35 18 20 38 14
2006–07 Manchester Monarchs AHL 77 25 32 57 23 16 2 3 5 8
2007–08 Manchester Monarchs AHL 57 28 28 56 29 4 2 0 2 4
2007–08 Los Angeles Kings NHL 22 5 4 9 4
2008–09 Los Angeles Kings NHL 7 1 0 1 2
2008–09 Manchester Monarchs AHL 54 21 26 47 35
2009–10 New York Islanders NHL 82 30 18 48 16
2010–11 New York Islanders NHL 82 31 22 53 24
2011–12 New York Islanders NHL 82 36 33 69 6
2012–13 New York Islanders NHL 47 15 29 44 4 6 2 1 3 10
2013–14 New York Islanders NHL 11 6 3 9 6
2013–14 Buffalo Sabres NHL 44 11 18 29 20
2013–14 Minnesota Wild NHL 20 6 7 13 8 10 1 2 3 4
2014–15 Buffalo Sabres NHL 77 13 28 41 4
2015–16 Buffalo Sabres NHL 81 8 13 21 16
NHL totals 555 162 175 337 110 16 3 3 6 14

Awards and honours

Award Year
All-ECAC Hockey First Team 2004–05
AHCA East Second-Team All-American 2004–05
ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team 2005 [14]
All-ECAC Hockey Second Team 2005–06

References

  1. http://www.danbylsma.com/mattltr.htm
  2. "Kings sign Matt Moulson to an entry-level contract". Los Angeles Kings. 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  3. "Aubin, Brown lead Kings over Sharks for fifth win in six games". CBS Sports. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  4. "Isles sign Moore, Moulson, Mauldin and Flood for next season". New York Islanders. 2009-07-06. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  5. Botta, Christopher.Islanders, Matt Moulson Avoid Arbitration with One-Year Deal,NHL Fanhouse, 2010-07-27. Retrieved on 2010-07-28.
  6. "Islanders sign Moulson to three-year extension". New York Islanders. 2011-01-27. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  7. Stubis, Brain (October 27, 2013). "Thomas Vanek traded to Islanders for Matt Moulson, picks". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  8. John, Vogl (March 5, 2014). Sabres send Matt Moulson and Cody McCormick to Minnesota for undisclosed picks and Torrey Mitchell. "Source: Sabres send Moulson and McCormick to Minnesota for undisclosed picks and Torrey Mitchell." Check |url= value (help). Buffalo News. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  9. "Moulson heads back to Sabres for 5-years $25 million". CBS Sports. 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
  10. "Moulson takes wife and baby Mila home". Matt Moulson's twitter. 2013-08-10. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  11. "'Whirlwind' day for new dad Moulson". New York Post. 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  12. "Moulson names second child George". Russian Machine Never Breaks. 2013-10-31. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
  13. Gormley, Chuck (2009-11-17). "The NHL's version of Rudy and Rocky all in one". NHL.com. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  14. "All-Tournament Honors" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. Retrieved 2014-05-12.

External links

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