Brock Nelson may have snapped a 17-game goal drought with back-to-back games on the scoresheet, but it's unlikely that will change his fate on the New York Islanders.
The Islanders' relentless need to stay in the playoff mix without rebuilding from scratch to build a true Stanley Cup contender is finally catching up with them this season, and the front office may be acknowledging this realization.
They are in dead-last place of the Metropolitan Division and although only five points out of the last wild-card position heading into Tuesday night's games, it's evident that the ingredients aren't there.
Nelson, 33, is a coveted acquisition for contenders looking to add immediate impact down the middle of the ice. He becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, so given the circumstances, Nelson's 12 years on Long Island are likely to come to an end by the March 7 trade deadline.
Brock Nelson cashing in a 2-point game last night inches him a little closer to catching some #Isles alumni in the franchise record books.
Which Nelson stat stood out to you the most? pic.twitter.com/mcPlNNeBel
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"The center position is at such a scarcity," said Frank Seravalli on Daily Faceoff Live. "There's way more teams looking for centers than there are centers available. So Nelson, to me, stands out as the sort of premier deadline rental center at the center position."
Nelson ranks No. 3 overall on TSN's trade bait list, only behind Vancouver's two-star centers J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson.
Some teams that make sense for Nelson's services would be the Minnesota Wild (Nelson's home state), New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Washington Capitals, all of which need a third-line center and some depth scoring.
Wild general manager Bill Guerin selected Nelson to Team USA's Four Nation's Face-Off roster, so given his roots there, there's potential for Nelson to sign an extension.
The Islanders are aiming to add youth to their roster through trades, which is the opposite route general manager Lou Lamoreillo has historically taken. So, the focus is on acquiring first-round picks.
According to Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the asking price for both Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri will include a first-round pick in any trade involving either forward, and given the famine in available centers, the Islanders own some leverage here.
Nelson was selected by the Islanders in the first round of the 2010 NHL Draft. Over his career, he has established himself as a consistent offensive contributor, amassing 556 total points in 882 games.
Known for his two-way play and ability to perform in key moments, Nelson has helped the Islanders reach the playoffs multiple times, including a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in both 2020 and 2021.
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