KEEP OR DUMP: Dominic Moore
Rangers center Dominic Moore #28 is all smiles (Photo by Anthony J. Causi)
Dominic Moore started out his career with the Rangers, but has played with eight other NHL teams before returning home. He left the hockey scene during the 2012 playoffs, while playing with the San Jose Sharks, as his late wife Katie was battling liver cancer. Sadly Katie lost her battle in January of 2013 and not surprisingly Moore took last season off.
With his return to the Rangers this season, he has brought new energy, skill and passion to his play. Moore returned under at $1 million dollar contract and has become an integral part of the Rangers team. During the regular season Moore, playing mostly 4th line center, had 6 goals and 12 assists in 73 games played. He has a 56 faceoff win percentage and is averaging 11:44 minutes of ice time.
So far in this postseason he has 2 goals and 1 assist in 11 games. Moore is known for elevating his play during the postseason. He has played 55 career playoff games. Forechecking hard as usual and consistently posting points, Moore is the type of player that is necessary to help the Rangers succeed in the playoffs. In 2010 he scored four goals for Montreal in the Canadiens’ ride to the conference finals in and then in 2011 he recorded 11 points for Tampa Bay in the Lightning’s run to the Eastern Conference finals. No doubt proving he is a strong asset, especially in playoff runs.
He is also a Masterton Trophy finalist and has a great shot at winning. The Masterton Trophy is awarded to the NHL player that best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. Moore’s journey of dealing with the loss of his wife, setting up a foundation in her name to help patients and families deal with rare cancer and returning to the game has been one of courage, heart and admiration.
Moore is exactly the type of player the Rangers need, and therefore should keep. He is a strong player who not only brings his skills on the ice, but the passion he has for the game is evident and infectious. The Rangers are continually contenders in the playoffs and Moore is a top postseason producer. It is not often that players like Moore come along and I believe it would be a mistake for the Rangers to let him go.
New York has many questions to answer this offseason. Brad Richards’ potential buyout, Derick Brassard (RFA) and Brian Boyle’s (UFA) free agent status mean could leave the Rangers with just one center in Derek Stepan.
Retaining Dominic Moore would not only be prudent, it would be wise. He is a veteran with character and integrity. Intangibles that can’t be quantified by stats. For all this, we feel Moore is a keeper.
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