Life Without Nelson: Looking Back & Looking Forward
The NHL Trade Deadline is Friday at 3 PM ET.
It’s the end of an era. Brock Nelson is no longer a member of the New York Islanders.
Before the clock struck midnight, Nelson had been dealt to the Colorado Avalanche, along with prospect William Dufour. In exchange, the Islanders received a 2026 or a 2027 first-round pick, a conditional 2028 third-round pick and defenseman Oliver Kylington.
The Islanders quickly flipped Kylington to the Anaheim Ducks for “future considerations”.
Nelson’s production and durability over his 12 years on Long Island allowed him to reach some franchise highs:
He was a leader, on and off the ice. But he was also a player who, really, defied odds given his age. He may have made his NHL debut in 2013-14, but his career really took a turn for the better when Barry Trotz arrived on Long Island ahead of the 2018-19 season.
Trotz unlocked Nelson’s confidence and he’s been that confident player ever since.
But, the trade on Thursday night with Colorado had to happen.
Nelson and the Islanders weren’t finding common ground in contract negotiations and the return, regardless of where No. 29 was going, would be a good one.
Calum Ritchie is a stud with a bright future. He’s 20 years old and plays in the OHL after scoring one goal in seven NHL games—he scored against Ilya Sorokin.
He’ll be fighting for a starting NHL gig in 2025-26.
The Islanders also banked a first-round pick, either in 2026 or 2027.
It was a trade that showed the Islanders have an eye on the future, and that’s important.
I’m sure if they really wanted Nelson back, they would have given him a deal he couldn’t refuse. But Lamoriello didn’t go that route, understanding the reality of his current roster and the importance of looking toward the future.
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Wouldn’t be surprised if they move Pulock to Jets. Jets need Another quality D man. Could swap for Lambert or first round pick
Ritchie, Eiserman, D. Nelson, George, Bednarik, Finley, some nice young goalies. The cupboard is not full but it’s not completely empty. We need more picks and two of our own lottery picks. It’s going to get worse before it gets better. We just have to hope a line of Eiserman - Ritchie - N. Nelson is something very special. It does have all the ingredients, and they all seem driven to succeed.