Sunday, July 1, 2012

Habs Offseason Player Profile: Travis Moen

7:05 AM  Sean Lloyd  4 comments

Travis Moen Signed to Four Year Extension

Travis Moen - LW - 6'2" 215 lbs
2011-12 Stats: 48GP - 9G - 7A - 16Pts - -3 - 41 PIM

The Cost

The Montreal Canadiens came to terms with Travis Moen Friday afternoon, inking the gritty winger to a four year $1.85 million extension. Moen will recieve a $350,000 raise as well as an extra year compared to his previous three-year contract.

The length of the deal came as somewhat of a shock to many as there were rumors in the days leading up to the signing that Moen was close to signing a two-year extension.

Performance

Before being sidelined for the remainder of the year with an upper body injury in February, Moen was on pace for a career season.

His nine goals were just two shy of his career high 11 in '06-'07 and his seven assists just four short from matching the 11 he posted in '09-'10, his first year as a Hab.

Moen's highest total was 21 points as an Anaheim Duck in '06-'07.

With 34 games remaining in the season at the time of his injury, it's hard to believe he wouldn't have posted career numbers had he stayed healthy.

The Fit

Moen could be used on the team's fourth line alongside Ryan White. Renaud Lavoie of RDS reported via Twitter that the Canadiens will take a pass on Brad Staubitz's services and so the third party on this potential line has yet to be signed.

What is also possible is a third line of Moen playing on Lars Eller's wing with Louis Leblanc on the right. However, it may do Leblanc well to spend more time in Hamilton—assuming he signs in Montreal.

While the line combinations may still be up in the air, what's sure is that Moen will play a huge part on the team's PK unit. He played an average of 2:22 minutes per game shorthanded last season, and had fantastic chemistry with Tomas Plekanec generating multiple scoring chances while down a man.

All things said, is four years too long for a player who fits that role? Who would you like to see playing alongside the nine year veteran?


Check out other player profiles:

Ryan White

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Sean is a freelance writer currently contributing to HabsAddict.com. He is also a regular blogger and frequent panelist on the Habs post game show at MontrealHockeyTalk.com

You can follow Sean on Twitter.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America)

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4 comments:

I think the term and price are in line with what should be paid leadership, penalty killing, grit and a team first attitude. It also creates stability on the third/fourth line and is a great example for the kids coming up. If Moen can mentor White/Geoffreon/Shultz etc we should be set on our bottom 6 for years to come. Look at a team like Detriot. They kept their bottom 6 the same for years with Draper, Maltby and McCarty providing leadership to the young up and coming players. It worked well for them.
If someone like Moen was around when Lapierre came into the league maybe he would have turned out like the player everyone wanted him to be. Agitator and tough.

Just my thoughts

I am also okay with the cost, Moen has proved that he's a capable player when kept to his role and is well liked in the locker room.

Great point about Detroit. they had the best role players for years and because of that have had a phenomenal work ethic after their departures.

Moen is a great signing, as a UFA in Montreal, I think we got a home town discount. I'm sure he could have got over 2M somewhere else, at the very least the same which would have given him more net.
Teams are putting a lot of value on big guys who can skate and play a regular shift.
He is also on our 1st wave PK which was one of the best in the league.

Just think, with Moen, Prust, Armstrong and Nokelainen Plekanec could have more 5 on 5 and PP time to focus on his offense.

He has great PK chemistry with Moen so I dont think he should be taken off the PK, but last year he averaged 3:13 minutes per game on the PK. Those minutes add up throughout the course of an 82 game schedule.

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