Islanders trade to serve as comp for Rangers blockbuster

Last season, the New York Islanders shook things up by jettisoning impending UFA Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche. The deal was a homerun for the Isles as they landed several key pieces to aid their retool.

That trade, it seems, was so shrewd that it will now serve as a comp for another potential blockbuster trade this season.

Insider Elliotte Friedman discussed during the January 24 edition of Saturday Headlines that the Islanders’ crosstown rivals, the New York Rangers, could be using Nelson’s trade as the model for the impending trade of Artemi Panarin.

The Islanders landed three key pieces in the trade. They got the Avalanche’s top prospect (Calum Ritchie), a first-round pick, and a third-round pick. The Isles also got depth defenseman Oliver Kylington, who was pretty much a cap dump.

That’s what the Rangers will be looking to get for Panarin. It’s unclear what teams would have the interest and the wherewithal to pay such a steep price. But then again, the Avalanche went all-in last season.

Similarly, another team could make a similar push and bet on Panarin landing on their club.

Islanders Nelson trade looking even better in hindsight

At the time, the Brock Nelson trade didn’t sit very well with Islanders’ fans. The move seemed like a capitulation on a sour season. Still, the trade is looking even better in hindsight.

The emergence of Calum Ritchie as a bona fide NHL center has made this deal age nicely. The 21-year-old has seven goals and 15 points in 40 games this season. That’s not bad, especially when considering he’s held onto the third-line center spot for the bulk of the season.

As for the draft picks, that’s an unresolved part of the story. The Islanders are on track to land the Avalanche’s 2026 first-rounder. However, there’s a condition attached to the pick. The pick is a top-10 protected pick. If the Avalanche finish in the bottom 10, the Isles would get the Avalanche’s 2027 first-round pick.

However, it’s highly unlikely the Avalanche finish in the bottom 10 this season. So, there’s a very good chance the Isles will get Colorado’s 2026 first-rounder. That pick would likely be among the last five in the first round.

There’s also the 2028 third-rounder. That pick is still a couple of years away from becoming a relevant part of the club. There’s a chance it becomes a trade chip. But then again, the Isles can just hold on to it.

Who knows, draft picks can be quite unpredictable. So, this pick might end up becoming a pleasant surprise for the Islanders.