Moulson making most of time with Islanders March 22, 2013 – Uniondale, New York - Brian Compton, NHL.COM, Deputy Managing Editor

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The summer of 2009 was a crucial one for Matt Moulson. Indeed, he had a lot on his plate.

Not only was he set to become an unrestricted free agent after three seasons in the Los Angeles Kings organization (mostly spent in the American Hockey League), but he was ready to take the next step in his personal life.

He wanted to pop the question to his girlfriend, Alicia.

"I needed to make the NHL to buy the ring -- or she was going to get one of those vending-machine rings," Moulson told NHL.com.

Searching for help up front, the rebuilding New York Islanders -- who selected John Tavares with the first pick in the NHL Draft a week earlier -- came calling when the free-agent market opened July 1.

Friends since their childhood in Ontario, Moulson quickly phoned Tavares and informed him of the Islanders' interest.

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Source: Brian Compton, NHL.COM, Deputy Managing Editor