New York Islanders 2016-17 Player Grades: Brock Nelson

Brock Nelson banked his third straight 20 goal season for the New York Islanders and might just have solidified himself as the player even more infuriating than Josh Bailey.

It’s quite a feat to find oneself sitting on top of the “Isles pariah” list, and with all of the inconsistencies in the New York Islanders season, Brock Nelson finally took the title.

So how do we come up with a grade for the Islanders forward who turned it on just enough to hit that 20 goal mark for the third straight season?

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New York Islanders

Inconsistencies aside, scoring 20 goals in the NHL takes some modicum of skill. When he’s actually skating and shooting the puck, Nelson can run with some of the best of them.

His wrist shot can be downright scary. We’ve seen flashes of the good things he can actually do. Once upon a time, he was at the top of a heap loaded with youth and promise.

He did well for himself last spring at the World Championships and he’s been chosen to represent the United States again this year.

You’d think three consecutive seasons of 20+ goals and international recognition would put Nelson at the top of most Isles’ fans’ “not expendable” list.

And yet…

https://twitter.com/RichRinaldi60/status/851198865130827776

Not every fan shares this opinion and there’s got to be some reservations about giving up on a guy that can put the puck in the net.

Why?

That question can pretty much be summed up in two tweets.

https://twitter.com/RoseTintedVisor/status/850913783438610432

I’m fairly certain that many us had similar thoughts that Nelson decided to show up once the season was all but over. He did just enough to reach the 20 goal mark when it was looking like he’d miss it this time around.

It’s hard to believe that with a career high in points, Nelson had several stretches of four or more games with nothing but zeros on the scoresheet. In fact, he went scoreless for the first nine games in January.

Nelson added little to an already anemic power play and seemed to do nothing but turn the puck over. In fairness to Nelson, he did take the puck way as much as he gave it away so he was even there.

The problem with Nelson is his turnovers – and inability to hit the next gear – seem to come at the most inopportune times. There’s no better example than the part he played in Jaccob Slavin’s short-handed goal in mid-March.

Watching Nelson through the season was an exercise in frustration and disappointment. The skill is there, some goals came, and maybe he did just enough to make him moveable at a decent price.

Next: Seidenberg Signing Is Unnecessary

Or, at the very least, desirable to Las Vegas. For that, Nelson earns a B-.

Final Grade: B-