Sabres sign Matt Moulson to 5-year, $25M contract

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The Buffalo Sabres have come to terms with unrestricted free agent forward Matt Moulson on a five-year, $25 million contract. The deal also includes a no-trade clause.

Moulson has been one of the better finishers in the National Hockey League over the past three seasons, although whether or not that production is a function of serving as John Tavares' most frequent wing-man is a matter for debate. Certainly his postseason struggles with the Minnesota Wild would appear to be a data point in favor of the "Moulson as passenger" theory.

That theory ignores Moulson's effectiveness in his short stint with the Buffalo Sabres last season, a historically inept offensive team. In 44 Sabres games, Moulson managed 29 points. Considering the quality of talent that surrounded him in upstate N.Y., that's pretty impressive.

It also ignores that Moulson played through multiple injuries - including a groin injury and an oblique strain - in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs. 

When he's healthy, Moulson is a craft goal producer and a bonafide top-six forward regardless of the quality of line-mates.