The New York Islanders’ only representative at the 4 Nations Face-Off was Brock Nelson. He didn’t do much for the runner-up United States roster aside from playing a forechecking role on the fourth line, but that shouldn’t diminish his trade value. He is a scorer at the center position, and he’ll take a good team and put them over the top.
The only two questions are whether the Islanders, specifically their general manager (GM) Lou Lamoriello, will trade him and which teams will want to add him considering he’s an unrestricted free agent (UFA) at the end of the season. Lamoriello trading him is the big mystery and anyone’s guess, but if he’s moved, a handful of teams will be willing to roll the dice on the top-six center.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are having a remarkable season and for the first time in a long time, they look like a team that can go on a deep playoff run. Under head coach Craig Berube, this team plays well at both ends of the ice, and more importantly, has a defensive unit capable of shutting down opponents and closing out games. The Maple Leafs have a great top six, but they could use another scoring presence in the middle of their forward unit. Nelson can center the third line, but he can also play the wing alongside Auston Matthews to open up the offense.
Related: THW’s Team Writers Put Together Their Best Offers For Islanders’ Nelson
The question is, what do the Maple Leafs send back in return? They don’t have a great prospect pool and Lamoriello isn’t looking for first-round selections, a common issue for a lot of teams that will target Nelson. Conversely, the player Lamoriello would want in a trade involving Nelson is Matthew Knies, but he’s one of the untouchable young skaters on their team. It’s possible the Maple Leafs can pair a top prospect with a first-round pick, but they might be one of the teams the Islanders turn to if the other offers for Nelson fall short.
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars seem like a perfect fit for Nelson. Yes, they added Mikael Granlund in a trade with the San Jose Sharks, a move that added a middle-six center to an already potent offense. That said, Nelson is a needle mover. He takes a good team like the Stars, one that reached the Western Conference Final in back-to-back seasons, and puts them over the top.
The Stars also have the young prospects to move in a deal. Wyatt Johnston is untouchable and Logan Stankoven is as well, but the same can’t be said about Mavrik Bourque, a young forward who has shown flashes but could be moved to add a player who helps the Stars win now. Likewise, Lian Bischel is a promising defense prospect who the Islanders can target to rebuild their blue line. It’s hard seeing Lamoriello trade one of his top players for one prospect, but the elite talent possessed by this team can be the exception.
Minnesota Wild
Nelson is a Minnesota native, something that if you didn’t know before, you probably know now because of the event that just took place (it seems like every time any USA player touched the puck, their hometown was mentioned). Aside from the homecoming, Nelson would be a great fit with the Minnesota Wild, a team that needs a boost offensively.
The Wild, along with a need for a scorer, have the most to offer. They can give the Islanders an NHL-ready player like Ryan Hartman in the deal, the type of player Lamoriello would want as he hopes to keep the team from rebuilding. On top of that, the Wild have a handful of prospects they can move in a deal, especially since there’s a good chance that if they acquire Nelson they can extend him afterward. For a team that will be in the playoffs but needs a player who can get them over the hump, this move makes a lot of sense.
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are having a remarkable season, a special one where they look like a team of destiny. They have the best record in the Central Division and might look to make a move or two to move the needle. With a great forward unit from the top down, great defense, and world-class goaltending, it’s hard to see the Jets making a move that fills a void.
Yet, the memory of the 2024 first round series against the Colorado Avalanche remains. They faced their divisional rival last season and when the games sped up and became high-scoring affairs, the Jets couldn’t keep up, losing the series in five games. It’s why they’ll look to add more offense to an already loaded forward unit, and Nelson fits the bill.
The Jets have two defensemen fighting for one spot on the NHL roster with Logan Stanley and Ville Heinola battling for it. It makes one of them expendable, but for a lot of teams, both skaters can easily carve out a role on their roster. The Islanders can look to add youth to their blue line and make a deal involving Nelson because of it.
Other Teams Who Can Target Nelson
The Carolina Hurricanes made the big move of the season when they acquired Mikko Rantanen. However, that deal is far from the final move they will make. Adding Nelson will set them up for a playoff run and possibly get this team over the hump. Last season, their big move was adding Jake Guentzel, and this season, all the chips can be pushed into the middle of the table (that, or they flip Rantanen at the deadline if recent reports are correct).
Another team to always monitor is the Vegas Golden Knights. Just when they look like they aren’t going to make a big trade, they make two of them. Last season, they added Noah Hanifin and then got Tomas Hertl at the last minute. Two seasons back, they added Ivan Barbashev to the top six in a move that helped them win the Stanley Cup, and that’s a move that mirrors a Nelson trade.
Is there a team you can see making a trade for Nelson? Let us know in the comments section below!
