Fansided

Islanders: Brock Nelson 2021 Season Grade

By Matt O'Leary |
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 27: Brock Nelson #29 of the New York Islanders skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Nassau Coliseum on February 27, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 27: Brock Nelson #29 of the New York Islanders skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Nassau Coliseum on February 27, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

2019-2020 was by far Brock Nelson’s best year in the league. He had 54 points and 26 goals in the shortened 68 game season. He followed that up with nine goals and 18 points in 22 playoff games for the New York Islanders.

It’s fair to say that expectations were high for Nelson going into the season. Out of the gate, things started on the slow side for Nelson. Through the team’s first nine games he had just three points (2 goals, 1 assist).

Brock usually goes cold in January so that split for the month isn’t too off-putting but considering January was the start of the season this year it was a tad on the surprising side. To Nelson’s credit, he was excellent on the power play to start the season for New York.

Through the first 26 games of the season, Nelly had six power-play goals. That’s an 82 game pace of 19 on the power play which would’ve been a career-high by a long shot. But he went ice cold after the Anders Lee injury on the man advantage.

He had just one more goal over the rest of the season on the power play, finishing his season with seven. On the year, it was 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists) which would’ve put him on track for just under 50 points over a full season.

Honestly, probably not where you’d like him. To me, Nelson for what he’s getting paid should be someone pacing out to 55+ points, not in the high 40’s.

In the playoffs, Nelson was solid once again for New York. In Game 6 against Pittsburgh, he had a three-point night including two goals and he netted another two goals in the Isles Game 6 win over the Boston Bruins. Both were series-clinching victories.

While the regular season production probably wasn’t where it should’ve been, it was still steady and Brock has developed himself into having a nice role as the second-line center. At times, the Beauvillier – Nelson – Bailey line was downright dominant in the playoffs.

For that, he gets a solid grade. While his season didn’t necessarily reach my expectations he was still a key player for this Isles team.

Final Grade: B

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