Brock Nelson trade noise gets louder amid NY Islanders struggles this season

The name Brock Nelson has been discussed as a trade target (or chip) for each of the past two seasons, but this is the first year where it realistically could or should be an option for GM Lou Lamoriello and the New York Islanders. That's been the case for a few reasons: 1) Nelson has had a 16-team no trade clause 2) Nelson has had term left on his contract 3) Lamoriello has viewed the Islanders as equipped with a roster that could accomplish a deep playoff run.

Things will be different in the psyche of the player and the organization heading into the trade deadline on Mar. 7th. Nelson is 33, and according to at least one NHL insider, Pierre Lebrun will test the open market in free agency. In past years, Lamoriello has actively sought extensions for some of his pending 30 and over free agents or has had enough dialogue with each heading into the off-season where it was always more likely that they would return. Recent examples include Scott Mayfield and Semyon Varlamov in 2023. Veterans like Cal Clutterbuck and Zach Parise never made it to free agency with extensions announced at that year's trade deadline.

Nelson, who will represent Team USA at this season's Four Nation's Face-off, has 10 goals and 10 assists through 35 games for the Islanders, currently last in the Metropolitan Division (13-15-7). That puts him on a 47 point pace, well below the 69 and 75 points he put up each of the past two seasons. However, this year leading up to the deadline, Nelson will have the opportunity to showcase his skills amongst some of the top NHL talent in the league in the inagural international tournament. A strong performance there weeks away from the deadline would erase any concerns over his lower-end production so far this season.

Given the trade market in recent seasons and the lack of available targets with Nelson's pedigree and track record, a first-round pick is a must and likely return, but the better the second-line center plays, the higher that package could grow. Of course, the thing that will determine whether Nelson is traded more than anything else is the performance of the Islanders. Given the way the team has rallied each of the two previous seasons, Lamoriello could resist trading Nelson for future assets in exchange for one last desperate run with his core of 30-somethings. It may not be what's best for the team's future, and that's something the GM will need to wrestle with if he goes in that direction.