Matt Moulson

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.

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.

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. 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.

On July 6, 2009, Moulson signed a one-year contract with the New York Islanders. 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. On January 27, 2011, he then signed a three-year, $9.45 million contract extension with New York.

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. 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).

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.

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 and the couple's second child, George Benjamin, was born October 11, 2013. 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.

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.

Regular season and playoffs