Alumni in the Pros - March 2016

[nhl.nbcsports.com] GM Murray says team is pushing Moulson to get into better shape

By Joey Alfieri Mar 5, 2016, 10:46 AM EST
Sabres GM Murray says team is pushing Moulson to get into better shape


Sabres forward Matt Moulson is having a tough year. The 32-year-old has just five goals and 15 points in 64 games. If that’s not bad enough, he’s found the back of the net just once in his last 52 contests.

Moulson thinks his slump is due to a lack of confidence, but that’s not how Sabres General Manager Tim Murray sees things.

“I see a player that maybe has neglected some things in the last couple years as far as how workouts are changing, how we as an organization are changing with our young players and even our players on the team,” Murray said, per the Buffalo News. “He’s sat up through some tough conversations. He’s sat up and taken notice, and I would say in the last five to six weeks he has been our hardest-working guy after games in the gym.”

Ouch! That’s some tough love from Murray.

It’s important for the Sabres to get this situation straightened out as soon as possible because it appears as though Moulson will be around for the next few seasons.

The veteran has the second highest cap hit ($5 million) among among forwards on the team (behind Evander Kane) and he’s signed through the 2018-19 season.

“We have a plan. We don’t expect to see results tomorrow,” added Murray. “We’ve talked to his agent. We’ve talked to him. We’ve talked to our strength and conditioning staff. He doesn’t miss an optional skate anymore. He doesn’t miss a postgame workout anymore. So he’s taking this real serious. He doesn’t just want to go away.”

When asked about Murray’s comments, Moulson responded with “OK.” When he was asked if he “neglected” his workouts Moulson added: “I don’t know. There’s always room for improvement, so maybe I decided to improve some things.”

It”ll be interesting to see if Moulson can turn things around. He’s just two seasons removed from scoring 23 goals and 51 points. He also has three 30-goal seasons under his belt.

Colin Greening threw down with Dion Phaneuf in a 3-2 loss against his former team:
[www.youtube.com]

Wishing the best for Moulson. That said, he looked really slow in the Rangers game last night. He's over 32 years old, sometimes this is just what happens. Fingers crossed.

sah67
Colin Greening threw down with Dion Phaneuf in a 3-2 loss against his former team:
[www.youtube.com]

I like how Colin used his left hand jersey grab and lifted straight up, thereby throwing Phaneuf off balance. I'm guessing that takes a lot of strength. Colin gets the takedown and the win I'm presuming.

Buffalo goalie Robin Lehner called out Ben Scrivens for avoiding a goalie fight in tonight's game (John McCarron's brother was involved in the scrum as well):
[sports.yahoo.com]

The #Flyers have signed defenseman Reece Willcox to an entry-level contract → [t.co] pic.twitter.com/g1u0WVO5Ax

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 21, 2016

Good for Reece.

Ugh for me and all decent flyers-hating people.

Wait, he was already a flyers draft pick, so I have already whined about this once

I never realized how funny looking Reece is.

Willcox mentioned a couple times on the Phantoms broadcast last night even though he didn't play. They said that while the Phantoms' coach likes to give new players a few practice sessions with the team before using them in a game, given the Phantoms' ugly 8-0 loss at home to Hershey last night, a shake-up in the defense might be warranted. Therefore the coach may accelerate his use in a game. We'll see this weekend.

Not exactly the Pros (although I think they're all on pro teams now), but a very nice family portrait from the IIHF World Championships.

Cornell Hockey take on the World @HockeyCanada @briannejenner @Lrougeau4 @jill_saulnier @RJohnst6 @fortino_laura77 pic.twitter.com/civuHubW4G

— Cornell W Hockey (@CornellWHockey) March 28, 2016

Jeff Hopkins '82
Willcox mentioned a couple times on the Phantoms broadcast last night even though he didn't play. They said that while the Phantoms' coach likes to give new players a few practice sessions with the team before using them in a game, given the Phantoms' ugly 8-0 loss at home to Hershey last night, a shake-up in the defense might be warranted. Therefore the coach may accelerate his use in a game. We'll see this weekend.

Yeah. It's tough to imagine Reece ever getting much time with the Flyers though given the pipeline of d talent they have. Especially if Hagg ever puts it together. But between Ghost, Morin, Provorov, and Sanheim I just don't see where he fits.

Looks like Scrivens is on waivers. With how awful Moulson is these days not gonna be many CU players at the highlest level left...

css228

Jeff Hopkins '82
Willcox mentioned a couple times on the Phantoms broadcast last night even though he didn't play. They said that while the Phantoms' coach likes to give new players a few practice sessions with the team before using them in a game, given the Phantoms' ugly 8-0 loss at home to Hershey last night, a shake-up in the defense might be warranted. Therefore the coach may accelerate his use in a game. We'll see this weekend.

Yeah. It's tough to imagine Reece ever getting much time with the Flyers though given the pipeline of d talent they have. Especially if Hagg ever puts it together. But between Ghost, Morin, Provorov, and Sanheim I just don't see where he fits.

Have to admit that Morin hasn't impressed, but I agree that I really don't see Reece breaking through.

Jeff Hopkins '82

css228

Jeff Hopkins '82
Willcox mentioned a couple times on the Phantoms broadcast last night even though he didn't play. They said that while the Phantoms' coach likes to give new players a few practice sessions with the team before using them in a game, given the Phantoms' ugly 8-0 loss at home to Hershey last night, a shake-up in the defense might be warranted. Therefore the coach may accelerate his use in a game. We'll see this weekend.

Yeah. It's tough to imagine Reece ever getting much time with the Flyers though given the pipeline of d talent they have. Especially if Hagg ever puts it together. But between Ghost, Morin, Provorov, and Sanheim I just don't see where he fits.

Have to admit that Morin hasn't impressed, but I agree that I really don't see Reece breaking through.

Morin was always going to be a long term project because of how big and raw he was. Hard not to salivate over a 6'7" guy who skates like he does though.