NEW YORK -- Thomas Vanek knew a trade from the Buffalo Sabres was likely. He just didnt expect to be shipped off to the New York Islanders this early in the season. From one rebuild to another for the prolific goal scorer. Vanek joined the Islanders on Monday morning just hours after the deal that sent him to Long Island for forward Matt Moulson and a pair of draft picks. Vanek and Moulson, who are both 29, can become unrestricted free agents after this season. Vanek, who has four goals and five assists this season, has scored 40 goals twice and was an All-Star in 2009. Moulson had six goals and three assists in 11 games with New York this season. He has 124 goals and 109 assists in 333 games in seven seasons with the Los Angeles Kings and the Islanders. New York general manager Garth Snow declined to say how long the teams talked before the trade. "You have to give up something to get something, and Matt was an excellent player for us the last four years," Snow said. "You have to sacrifice in certain areas to make additions in others. I think thats pretty self-explanatory, and I wish Matt nothing but the best moving forward." The Sabres own the worst record in the NHL and are clearly looking to the future as they continue to sell off veteran parts for building blocks. Vanek was unlikely to return to Buffalo, and was a prime candidate to be sent packing. "I knew it was going to happen sooner or later with the situation in Buffalo," Vanek said. "But when it does happen, initially its a shock. Im excited to come here. Great young team, up-tempo style. Im looking forward to it." Vanek said he didnt sleep Sunday night after being told about the trade. He practiced with the Islanders on Monday morning, taking Moulsons spot on the top line alongside captain John Tavares and fellow forward Kyle Okposo. The Islanders took a risk with the trade, hoping that in the time Vanek spends with his new team he can convinced to make a long-term commitment to stay. No negotiations have started yet, and no conditions regarding Vanek sticking with the Islanders were included in the trade. "I havent gotten that far," Vanek said. "I didnt sleep at all last night, so I want to catch some sleep first, get to know these guys, and figure it out later." Vanek saw the writing on the wall with the Sabres, who dealt Jason Pominville last season, changed coaches, and also could trade away veteran goalie Ryan Miller this season. Buffalo had four teenagers in its lineup for its last game and appear a long way off from competing for a championship. The Islanders returned to the playoffs last season after five years on the outside. New York was knocked out in the first round by Pittsburgh, but showed signs of being on the upswing. With an eye toward Brooklyn, where the Islanders will move in two years, the club is trying to make strides toward greater improvement leading up to that relocation. If Vanek can mesh with the young Tavares as well as Moulson did in recent years, and then sign a new deal, the Islanders would have a potent punch up front. "I want to win," he said. "You train all summer long, practice every day, and you want to have a chance. Right now you know that we struggled (in Buffalo). Its hard to win when you do struggle, especially as one of the leaders, but at the same time reality is setting in and Im happy to be an Islander." Moulson played a key role in the on-ice development of Tavares, who was chosen No. 1 by the Islanders in the 2009 draft. They also were close friends off the ice. "Hes been there for all the success Ive had," the 23-year-old Tavares said. "The little things he does that have helped my game, we were door-to-door neighbours my second year. How long weve known each other. The impact that he made, he and his family, how much they helped me off the ice. Words cant really describe how much he was there for me. "Its part of the game, part of the business, you understand that. Im sad to see him go, but its what the team thought was best. We have to go forward now, starting tomorrow." The Islanders will welcome the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, which will mark Vaneks debut with the team. Islanders coach Jack Capuano didnt have much advance notice of the deal, but once it was made he quickly decided that Vanek would join the top line. "Anytime you trade a top player for a top player, thats where hes got to go," Capuano said. "Hes very skilled, and hes good with the puck. He shoots the puck really well. Hes got good size so, hell start with Johnny and Kyle and well see where that plays out." If it works well, the Islanders hope that comfort zone and a familiarity with New York forward Michael Grabner -- a fellow Austrian -- will make the difference once contract talks begin in earnest. "We havent even had those conversations," Snow said. "Our focus has been to acquire Thomas and get him on a flight here, and get him situated and comfortable and get him ready for todays practice and tomorrows game. "Hes a high-end talent. An All-Star calibre player, big body. He can skate and obviously score goals at an elite level, hes a high-calibre person off the ice, so for us, were getting a great addition to our team." Cyber Monday College Jerseys .J. Mayo made seven three-pointers and scored 25 points, Ersan Ilyasova added 20, and the Milwaukee Bucks placed seven players in double figures in a 130-110 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers, who lost their 11th straight game on Monday night. Stitched College Jerseys . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. 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Among the teams moves was trading one of the teams two third round picks, no. 83 overall, to the Chicago Blackhawks for Brandon Bollig, a six-foot-two, 223-pound left-winger who had seven goals, seven assists, and 92 penalty minutes in 82 games last season.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Clutching the game ball tightly in his hands, EJ Manuel was making his way up the tunnel in the euphoria of a last-second victory when the Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback was stopped in his tracks. Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly jumped from out of nowhere to greet Manuel with a big bear hug and two brief words: "Good job." On the day the Bills honoured Kelly and other past stars during a halftime ceremony, Manuel provided a promising glimpse into the franchises future. The first-round draft pick out of Florida State threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Stevie Johnson with 2 seconds left to clinch a 24-23 win over the stunned Carolina Panthers on Sunday. "I cant even tell you how it felt," Manuel said of the touchdown pass. "I think I started crying right then. Im not usually an emotional guy. But Im going to enjoy these type of things." Manuel was 29 of 37 for 296 yards and bounced back after throwing an interception and losing a fumble on consecutive possessions, with the turnovers leading to field goals by Graham Gano. He became the fifth NFL rookie since 1960 to engineer a fourth-quarter comeback in his first or second game. "Im not surprised. EJ doesnt seem like a rookie," said Johnson, who finished with 111 yards receiving. "He earned a lot of our respect." Bills defensive end Mario Williams set a team record with 4 1/2 sacks. Fred Jackson scored on a 4-yard run. The Bills (1-1) bounced back from the disappointment of squandering a lead in the final seconds of a season-opening 23-21 loss to New England. It was a bittersweet first victory for rookie coach Doug Marrone, who took over after Chan Gailey was fired. Marrone was in tears after the game when he revealed he was mourning the loss of a good friend, Rob Edson, the Onondaga Community College athletic director, who died suddenly Saturday. "I know that Rob was watching, and I cant stop thinking about that," Marrone said. "When that game was coming down to the end, my prayers just go out to him and his family." The Panthers are still struggling to win close games. They were coming off a 12-7 loss to Seattle and dropped to 2-14 in games deecided by 7 points or less in two-plus seasons under coach Ron Rivera.dddddddddddd "Roller coaster. Thats about as bad as it gets," Rivera said. "You had an opportunity to win the game, an opportunity to close it out, and you didnt. ... We had a chance to make a play and we didnt. Thats the thing thats hard to swallow: We just have to make one play." Cam Newton went 21 of 38 for 229 yards and two touchdowns, a 13-yarder to Greg Olsen and a 40-yarder to Ted Ginn Jr. "This isnt about learning hard lessons," said Steve Smith, who had 52 yards receiving. "This is like going to the dentist and getting several teeth pulled without any anesthesia, laughing gas, nothing." The Panthers defence couldnt contain Manuel and the Bills hurry-up offence and allowed Buffalo to score on four of six second-half possessions. It didnt help that linebacker Luke Kuechly helped keep the Bills decisive drive alive. With Buffalo facing third-and-6 at Carolinas 29, Kuechly was penalized for pass interference on Johnson with 14 seconds left. The Bills scored two plays later. And on offence, Carolina settled for field goals on its three final possessions. The first two came when the Panthers were stopped on third down inside the Bills 10. The last one came after Cam Newton led a 12-play, 39-yard drive that ate up more than 5 1/2 minutes, capped by Ganos 39-yard field goal with 1:38 left. Manuel was unfazed as the Bills took over at their own 20 with 1:38 remaining and no timeouts. Willing to throw over the middle, he was efficient in twice getting the Bills lined up when his receiver was unable to get out of bounds. "He was focused. He was locked in," Johnson said of Manuel. "He was in there like a No. 1 quarterback." NOTES: The Bills previous single-game record was four sacks, shared by Bruce Smith, who did it twice, and Cornelius Bennett. ... Carolina allowed 149 yards rushing after previously giving up no more than 70 in its previous five games. ... The Panthers lost S Charles Godfrey (right Achilles tendon) and CB Josh Thomas (concussion). ... Dan Carpenter hit a 55-yard field goal for the Bills. ' ' '