Buffalo Sabres Must Cater To Matt Moulson’s Strengths If They Keep Him

Now that the Buffalo Sabres appear to be committed to him, do they actually plan on using him?

Monday, the Buffalo Sabres made what I felt was a surprising announcement:

Huh.

Well, I won’t dig too deeply into whether or not I agree with this decision, because frankly, what’s the point?  The Buffalo Sabres still won’t answer my phone calls, so until they do, I’m on the outside looking in!

In all seriousness, if the Sabres truly intend to keep Moulson on the roster -because let’s face it, the guy has zero trade value after the 8-13-21 season he just produced – the team would be wise to consider playing him alongside Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart.

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I’m aware there is a youth movement going on in Buffalo, and that very few people want to see Moulson start logging 17 minutes of ice each and every night.  Even so, if the Sabres feel like Moulson is going to spend the offseason working harder than any other player on the team (which is highly doubtful, if you have ever seen the offseason workouts that Ryan O’Reilly subjects himself to, but it’s the thought that counts!), then Dan Bylsma and company need to make sure they are playing to Moulson’s strengths.

Translation: they can’t just bury Moulson on the fourth line.

Could they get away with playing Moulson on the third line alongside Zemgus Girgensons and Tyler Ennis (assuming he, you know, plays next season)?  Maybe – but if there is any sense that Moulson can return to 20-goal form, he might be better off playing with the Sabres’ young, dynamic duo.

Moulson is not going to re-invent himself as a checking forward; he needs to be paired up with a creative shot-maker a la Eichel.  I’m tempted to say Bylsma should see if he can round out the starting line with Ryan O’Reilly and Evander Kane, but 8 of Moulson’s 21 points this season came with either Reinhart or Eichel on the ice, and besides, I’m hoping the Buffalo Sabres go out and get a player who is truly worthy of starting for this team.  Moulson strung together three consecutive 30-goal seasons playing with John Tavares as a member of the New York Islanders, and while no one expects him to rebound with a 30-goal season in 2016-17, Tim Murray is keeping him in the 716 for SOME reason.

Eichel is the sort of player who is dangerous with the puck on his stick, and he is going to attract all sorts of attention from opposing teams next season.  If Moulson’s late season semi-resurgence is proof that he regained both his confidence and scoring touch – he scored three goals in the final two weeks of the season, and scored nearly a third of his season’s point total in the months of March and April – he could thrive on that second line and convince some fans to lower their pitchforks.

Hey: I’m trying to be optimistic here.

Next: Buffalo Sabres UFA Options - Playoffs Edition

Retaining Matt Moulson may not be incredibly popular among fans – full disclosure: I wouldn’t keep him – but it is what the Buffalo Sabres appear to be committed to right now.  If he is going to take up a spot on the roster, the Sabres might as well see if he produce on the second line.  If not, the team may be giving the Rochester Americans a highly-paid Christmas present, because burying him on the fourth line is just a waste of a roster spot for this team.