For the first time in his career, Brock Nelson is leaving Long Island.
The New York Islanders traded Nelson and forward William Dufour to the Colorado Avalanche for prospect Calum Ritchie, a first-round pick in either 2026 or 2027, a conditional third-round pick in 2028 and defenceman Oliver Kylington, the teams announced on Thursday.
The Islanders will also retain 50 per cent of Nelson’s contract, which is worth $6 million before expiring after this season, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported.
In 61 games this season, the lanky 33-year-old centre Nelson has registered 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists). He scored at least 34 goals in each of the previous three seasons and skated for the U.S. during the 4 Nations Face-Off.
But the Islanders face long odds on reaching the playoffs.
And so Colorado will get the sniper for the playoff run, where he could provide hard checking and sound defence, as he did on the fourth line for the Americans, in addition to depth scoring.
Nelson has spent his entire 12-year NHL career with the Islanders after being selected 30th overall in the 2010 draft.
