EXCLUSIVE: Barry Trotz On The Early Two-Way Potential That Turned Former Islanders Forward Brock Nelson Into A Selke Finalist
Barry Trotz explains how Brock Nelson evolved into an elite two-way forward, reflects on Team USA success, and opens up about Anders Lee’s leadership with the Islanders.
On Wednesday, former New York Islanders and current Colorado Avalanche forward Brock Nelson was named one of three finalists for the Selke Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.
But if you ask me, Nelson’s transformation into becoming a Selke finalist, a trusted two-way forward, truly began when Barry Trotz arrived on Long Island ahead of the 2018-19 season.
That was the moment we started to see Nelson evolve from a talented offensive player into someone capable of handling matchup minutes, penalty-kill responsibilities, and, most importantly, trust in all situations.
This morning, I spoke with the former Islanders bench boss about what stood out to him when he first evaluated Nelson, why he believed there was far more to his game than people realized, and how that belief eventually helped shape the player Nelson has become today.