Vanek Traded to NYI

[Kovy27]

Vanek to NYI for Moulson, 2014 1st, and 2015 2nd.

NYIslanders ‏@NYIslanders 1m
#ISLES TRANSACTION: Islanders acquire Thomas Vanek from Buffalo Sabres for Matt Moulson & picks - http://nyisl.es/qe0js" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[pugilist13]

WOW!

[columbia]

WOW!

[Kovy27]

Feels like the Isles gave up A LOT for a UFA at the end of the season and McKenzie confirms that the Isles do not have an agreement with Vanek for an extension.

[mikey287]

Pretty big deal there. Good that Buffalo understands how bad they are and aren't wasting any time with pieces that they aren't going to move forward with. Matt Moulson is a good soldier, maybe you can introduce some levity into a terrible situation there. Gotta probably put him with Tyler Ennis, which hurts me as a Marcus Foligno owner.

Vanek is a UFA at the end of the year. The cap hit is north of $7 million, the real money is $6.4M I believe. We'll see what the Isles have planned here. Vanek is a lot of more skilled than Moulson, but also excellent in front of the net, look out for John Tavares now...

[pcm]

Good for the Isle. Tavares+Vanek = sick. A little surprising they went after Vanek over Miller. But nevertheless, watch out crappy metro division... (now they just need a goalie and some defense.)

[Kovy27]

I'm interested in seeing how Moulson does without JT. I just don't see it in Buffalo, he could easily struggle.
Vanek, however, could easily be a 40 goal scorer with JT now.

[pcm]

Vanek was a 40 goal scorer without Tavares.

[pcm]

Feels like the Isles gave up A LOT for a UFA at the end of the season and McKenzie confirms that the Isles do not have an agreement with Vanek for an extension.

A 1st and a 2nd to upgrade Moulson to Vanek, and have an excellent shot at re-signing an elite forward? I'd say that's a great deal for the Isle.

[KG]

Isles should have gotten Miller while they were at it...

[mikey287]

They took Moulson away from Tavares a little bit this season, but not long enough to make a lot of it. I wonder if Moulson has that next level - I know it was his first playoffs, but he was a complete non-factor vs. Pittsburgh in the 2013 ECQF. Him being a UFA at the end of the year and last year's playoff performance might have greased the wheels a little bit perhaps.

[Gaucho]

"A Shift In Power"?

[pcm]

I dont get why Buffalo would want Moulson. He's a UFA, he'll take up a roster spot / playing time from young guys. Unless they're thinking he's another UFA they can move at the deadline, they should have gotten an asset for the future...

[Gaucho]

Including Moulson probably had to do with his (and Vanek's) salary. They should be able to get a pick or something for him at the deadline.

[Idoit40fans]

Pretty great trade for buffalo. This makes that isles top line even more deadly...more stuff that other people already said.

[mikey287]

All of their young guys are already playing in Buffalo. So, no worries there. If anything, too many young players are playing already. But yes, it won't be hard to get a pick for Moulson at the deadline if they determine he's not a part of the plan.

[Lt. Dish]

I'm not pleased about this trade from a Pens' fan POV--a fast team adding more skill...

[Malkamaniac]

This deal is pretty good for me Fantasy wise. Tavares all day.

[Kovy27]

Vanek was a 40 goal scorer without Tavares.

With Poms. He wasn't going to be a 40 goal scorer this year. Now he is.

Tavares is now the #2 center in NHL behind Nicklas Backstrom, of course.

[Jim]

In the end, Buffalo won this trade. Vanek was gone at the end of the season and they would have gotten nothing for him. Now they have a #1, a #2 and a a guy that has more goals than Vanek over the last 4+ seasons and whom they could potentially resign. Full picture, Buffalo is in a much better spot today then they were at the start of the weekend.

[Idoit40fans]

Vanek was a 40 goal scorer without Tavares.

With Poms. He wasn't going to be a 40 goal scorer this year. Now he is.

Tavares is now the #2 center in NHL behind Nicklas Backstrom, of course.

I assumed he was behind Giroux.

[GSdrums87]

A first and a second for potentially 10-15 more goals? Go for it, Islanders. Doesn't fix their holes on D and in goal.

[MRandall25]

It was a very parallel move, then they threw in the draft picks

[brwi]

Feels like the Isles gave up A LOT for a UFA at the end of the season and McKenzie confirms that the Isles do not have an agreement with Vanek for an extension.

A 1st and a 2nd to upgrade Moulson to Vanek, and have an excellent shot at re-signing an elite forward? I'd say that's a great deal for the Isle.

What makes you think they have an "excellent shot" at re-upping Vanek at the end of the year? Vanek and his agent had no idea this trade was coming and obviously have had no discussion with the Isles before and his agent stated right afterwards that he wasn't going to talk contract at all during the season.

If they don't re-up Vanek, this trade will be judged a fail, barring the Isles going deep into the post-season.

[meow]

I'd wager good money that Moulson ends the year somewhere other than Buffalo.