It is back to the future for Matt Moulson, the high-scoring winger who for four years was an essential building block in the Islanders’ climb to respectability and now gets to fill that same role — at least temporarily — for the bottom-feeding Sabres.
“It’s tough anytime to leave a place where you’ve put in so much time, effort and work to help make a success,” Moulson, the key component on the other side of Sunday’s deal for Thomas Vanek, said following Buffalo’s morning skate at the Garden in advance of Thursday night’s match against the Rangers.
“We all kind of grew together and got better together, so that’s tough, but I got over it pretty quickly. You move on in life.”
Moulson, who recorded 118 goals in 304 games as an Islander before scoring twice in his first game in a Buffalo uniform in Tuesday’s 4-3 home defeat to the Stars, more likely than not will be on the move again in advance of the March 5 deadline.
The Sabres, who obtained first- and second-round picks from the Islanders in Sunday’s deal, are expected to wheel Moulson for more picks as a rental property with the 30-year-old (his birthday is Friday) eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
“Everyone’s brought that up, but no one from the organization,” Moulson said. “I have a similar attitude as when I was with the Islanders that I don’t have a contract [for next year].
“I’m taking it day by day, trying to get better, doing whatever I can to help the team win and sharing my knowledge with my teammates,” he said. “Whether I’m here for a couple of months, a year or a couple of years, I don’t think my game of style will change at all.”
Moulson, the father of a not-quite-3-week-old son and a 14-month-old daughter, was able to spend Wednesday night at his Long Island home. Guess who came for dinner? Close friend and former linemate John Tavares.
“I got to say goodbye again and be sad again,” Moulson said. “He’s a great kid, and we had chemistry on and off the ice. To have chemistry like that with one of the best players in the world … I’m sure he’ll do well with anyone.”
Vanek skated on Tavares’ left with Kyle Okposo on the right in his debut as an Islander on Tuesday against the Rangers. Moulson is skating on the Sabres’ first line with Cody Hodgson and Tyler Ennis.
“The young guys are pretty much like with the Islanders,” said Moulson, a Cornell product who originally was selected 263rd overall by the Penguins in the ninth round of the 2003 Entry Draft. “They’re enthusiastic and want to get better. I love to talk, so I’ll share my experience with the guys.”
Moulson’s fate as an Islander was essentially sealed over the summer when general manager Garth Snow failed to grant the first-line winger a contract extension. Indeed, the parties never engaged in any type of serious negotiation.
“Obviously anytime you’re in the last year of a contract, specifically, there’s a chance you could be traded,” Moulson said. “Me and my wife always knew that was a possibility, but I believed in my heart that it would work out.
“I didn’t think this would happen, but it’s sports. You move on.”
Moulson was asked whether he would consider signing with the Islanders as a free agent if they were to come calling over the summer. It’s a far-fetched scenario given the organization made no attempt to lock him up when the opportunity was there to do so.
“I haven’t thought about that at all,” he said. “That’s something I’d have to talk about with my family and agent. I’m concentrating on this team. I’ll get to that when I have to.”