Brock Nelson isn't the only NY Islanders pending unrestricted free agent struggling

Brock Nelson is the most talked-about trade asset for the New York Islanders heading toward the March 7th trade deadline, and for good reason. Nelson has been the team's leading goal scorer for the last five seasons, scoring 34, 36, and 37 goals. However, Kyle Palmieri is also playing in the final year of his contract, coming off a 30-goal season, and has the makeup that tracks record that would make him an attractive trade target for playoff-bound teams.

Unfortunately, having trade value and track record isn't the only thing Nelson and Palmieri have in common at the moment. Nelson is in the midst of a 17-game scoreless streak, almost unheard of and unfathomable for a player who has been so consistent and reliable for the team that drafted him in 2010. Meanwhile, Palmieri, a notoriously streaky scorer, is having his cold streak, scoring only two goals in his last 18 games. A big reason why the Islanders have stumbled despite getting Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair back is that the scoring from Nelson and Palmieri has dried up.

Nelson and Palmieri have experience being pending UFAs, with their situations ending very differently. Nelson played out the final year of his contract in 2018-19 and signed a six-year contract extension with the Islanders in the off-season. On the other hand, Palmieri was dealt by the New Jersey Devils, along with teammate Travis Zajac, to Long Island in a package that sent a 1st round pick to the Devils. Palmieri re-signed with the Isles in the off-season, inking a four-year contract.

"I think for me, this year, I haven't really worried about it. I think it'll take care of itself, whatever decisions are made," Palmieri told Stefen Rosner in The Hockey News. "As cliche as it sounds, a lot of it is out of my control right now. I'm focused on helping this team win and getting the ball rolling as a team in the new year."

Palmieri, 33, reached 30 goals for only the second time in his career last season, and similar to Nelson, could bring back a 1st round pick if he's hitting his stride at the right time. He scored 10 goals in the first 22 games of the season, helping the Isles' overcome injuries to the forward group, but they'll need him and Nelson to dig themselves out of their individual holes soon to make either make playoff contention more realistic or ensure their trade market is as robust as it should be for each.