The New York Islanders traded Brock Nelson and prospect William Dufour to the Colorado Avalanche for Calum Ritchie, Oliver Kylington, a first-round pick in 2026, and a conditional third-round pick in 2028. Nelson, a three-time 30-goal scorer for the Islanders was beloved.
This trade will tug at the heartstrings of the Islanders and their fans. The Islanders flipped Kylington to the Ducks for future considerations, getting more for Nelson. What do you think of the trade?
Trade Details
There are a few additional details about the Nelson trade that readers need to know. The first-round pick the Islanders got from the Avalanche is top-10 protected in 2026. It would also become a 2027 pick if Colorado’s first-round pick this year, which they traded to the Philadelphia Flyers with top-10 protection a year ago, does not go to the Philadelphia Flyers, who would then get the 2026 pick.
That is a good haul for the beloved Nelson. It was a seller’s market this year and the Islanders took full advantage of this by trading him. He has played with the Islanders his entire career and was a prolific scorer for a team that needs goals.
Nelson Statistics
Nelson played for the New York Islanders for his entire 12-year career. He was a first-round pick of the Islanders in 2010. He has scored 295 goals for the Islanders with 574 points in his career. He scored 37 goals in 2021-2022, 36 goals in 2022-2023, and 34 goals last season. Nelson has 23 goals this season as he is slowing down at 33. There is an outside chance he will end up with 30 goals this season.
Nelson played for the United States during the Four Nations Face-Off. He was the team’s only representative in the highly successful tournament. That said, it was time to move on from the beloved Nelson. He was by far the biggest part of this trade.
Where Does This Trade Leave the Islanders?
By trading Nelson the Islanders, who are challenged when it comes to scoring, lose a top forward. The 20-year-old Ritchie may play for them on the fourth line this season. He has played seven games for the Avalanche this season but was a prolific scorer in the minor leagues. The draft picks are for the future.
The Islanders are reportedly trying to sign Kyle Palmieri to a contract extension. His contract, like that of Nelson, will expire after this season. Palmieri has been a 30-goal scorer for the Islanders as well. He is currently the top trade target remaining in the NHL.
The Islanders, after sustaining a raft of injuries, now have a glut of defensemen. Mike Reilly is also coming back soon. They should look to flip one of their defensive acquisitions. They are strong at defense now. General Manager Lou Lamoriello made some great defensive acquisitions when the injuries hit. The return of Reilly is one of the best stories in the National Hockey League.
Conclusion
This was a good move for the Islanders. They are not going to make the playoffs this year. They barely have a 20% chance. They do not need a top forward. Colorado, on the other hand, is one of the best teams in the NHL. They will not only make the playoffs, they will compete for a Stanley Cup. The Islanders need to get younger and faster. They did both of those things in this trade and simultaneously upgraded their poor prospect pool.
