Brock Nelson Traded To Colorado Avalanche

Brock Nelson Traded To Colorado Avalanche

Brock Nelson is officially no longer a New York Islander. After years of trying to push with this core, Lou Lamoriello is finally waving the white flag. Arguably the top player available ahead of the deadline is switching conferences as the Avalanche are the winners of the sweepstakes. Moments ago, the Isles confirmed that a trade is happening:

The New York Islanders have acquired forward Calum Ritchie, a first-round selection in the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft, a conditional third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft, and defenseman Oliver Kylington from the Colorado Avalanche, in exchange for Brock Nelson and William Dufour.

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 7, 2025

Pierre LeBrun also confirmed that the Isles will retain 50% of the remaining cap hit.

While not as potent a scorer as he’s been in recent years (20 goals, 43 points in 61 games), Brock Nelson is still a very good player. He fits in great with the Avs as a second line center or could even create a stacked top line as a left winger alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Marty Necas. In an offense-driven system the pending free agent should more than hold his own. Factor in the ability to play on either special teams unit and you have a player who should be great come playoff time. Even the advanced metrics know Nelson is an offensive force:

Brock Nelson, acquired by COL, is a veteran scoring centre. A prolific creator of scoring chances, rush opportunities, and goals at 5v5 who handles the puck well. Hasn't necessarily had the defensive impact his reputation dictated; he's an offensive player first and foremost. pic.twitter.com/ViLao2su6w

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 7, 2025

It’s hard not to love this deal as an Avs fan. Giving up on trying to re-sign Mikko Rantanen and dealing him eastwards may sting for a while. However, you do a more than respectable job in replacing him in the aggregate with Nelson and Necas. This team will enter the playoffs with a much deeper lineup than in years past. If Jared Bednar ultimately opts to make Nelson the 2C then maybe bumping Casey Mittelstadt to the third line could help him improve with less pressure on his shoulders. More importantly, you keep Nelson from ending up in Minnesota or Winnipeg. Not a cheap price to pay by any means but a necessary one all things considered.

Drifting Away On The Island

As much as some fans will be sad over this move, it had to happen. The Islanders have been about as mid as it gets since their COVID-era playoff runs. Even I had to take my rose-colored glasses off and accept that this team was going nowhere if they kept running it back. Based on the return they got for Nelson, it shows that they are finally beginning to look towards the future rather than the present.

Cal Ritchie is a 2023 first-round pick who broke into the NHL this season. He has one point in seven games after scoring 67 in 41 games for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL. EliteProspects tabbed him as a two-way forward with good hockey sense. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, and only 20 years old, he can definitely develop an NHL frame in the coming years and become a piece for the future.

Furthermore, the first-round pick in either 2026 or 2027 is a good asset. Especially considering many scouts see that as a deeper and stronger draft than this year’s. With this, you can certainly expect that their fire sale will continue. Now they can finally let some young guys play and not worry about making a playoff push only to get bounced in the first round.

The Golden Knights Have Succesfully Re-Acquired Reilly Smith

Are the Avalanche done? Chances are that answer is yes. They got the #1 trade target before the deadline. For the Islanders, however, they got plenty more to do. This is the first domino to fall between now and 3pm.

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