Insiders Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston name two frontrunners for Islanders Brock Nelson
Brock Nelson will most likely be traded this year and now insiders Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston have shared two of the top destinations for the former All-Star.
Since being drafted back in 2010, Brock Nelson has developed into one of the best goalscorers for the New York Islanders. He has potted 30+ goals in each of the past three seasons showing incredible consistency. However, it looks like the Islanders are ready to ship him out and a trade seems inevitable.
While it will not be cheap to acquire Nelson, Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston have identified two teams that could take a run at the player.
LeBrun: Dallas Stars
The Stars will have ample cap room to add closer to the trade deadline once they put Tyler Seguin and his $9.85 million cap hit on long-term injured reserve.
They haven't yet; he's still on IR and counting against their live cap. But that will change when they need it. And while the Stars have plenty of depth up front, general manager Jim Nill has never been shy about adding at the deadline when he's going for it. And this team remains very much in its go-for-it window.
The fly in the ointment when it comes to Nelson's actual availability is that Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello hasn't always seen value in moving his pending UFAs, regardless of where his team is in the standings. But I believe Nelson intends to test free agency on July 1, so one would think that will influence Lamoriello's decision, depending on where the Isles are in the standings.
Nelson to the Stars. I like it. I like it a lot.
The Stars will have ample cap room to add closer to the trade deadline once they put Tyler Seguin and his $9.85 million cap hit on long-term injured reserve.
They haven't yet; he's still on IR and counting against their live cap. But that will change when they need it. And while the Stars have plenty of depth up front, general manager Jim Nill has never been shy about adding at the deadline when he's going for it. And this team remains very much in its go-for-it window.
The fly in the ointment when it comes to Nelson's actual availability is that Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello hasn't always seen value in moving his pending UFAs, regardless of where his team is in the standings. But I believe Nelson intends to test free agency on July 1, so one would think that will influence Lamoriello's decision, depending on where the Isles are in the standings.
Nelson to the Stars. I like it. I like it a lot.
The Dallas Stars are in one of the best positions in the entire NHL. They have a strong mix of young and old talent and look as if they will be competing for a Stanley Cup for a very long time. Currently, Tyler Seguin is out with a hip injury and will miss 4-6 months.
This gives them the space to trade for Nelson and if they do, then he will likely cost them some of their young assets.
Chris Johnston then went on to add another Western team that could move for Nelson.
Johnston: Minnesota Wild
In his role as general manager of Team USA, Wild GM Bill Guerin has already put Nelson on the roster for February's 4 Nations Face-Off. So you can be sure he'd love to bring the Minnesotan home with him to bolster the Wild's playoff push when that tournament ends.
Nelson would be an ideal fit for a team looking to parlay a better-than-expected start into a long spring. He's a big, powerful north-south skater who can slot in as a second-line center or play on the wing.
He's a trusted veteran with 78 games of playoff experience already under his belt. And he's a pending unrestricted free agent who may consider sticking around his home state rather than testing the open market.
Acquiring Nelson would require some serious salary-cap gymnastics now that the Wild are operating in long-term injured reserve, but what's that old saying? Where there's a will, there's a way.
In his role as general manager of Team USA, Wild GM Bill Guerin has already put Nelson on the roster for February's 4 Nations Face-Off. So you can be sure he'd love to bring the Minnesotan home with him to bolster the Wild's playoff push when that tournament ends.
Nelson would be an ideal fit for a team looking to parlay a better-than-expected start into a long spring. He's a big, powerful north-south skater who can slot in as a second-line center or play on the wing.
He's a trusted veteran with 78 games of playoff experience already under his belt. And he's a pending unrestricted free agent who may consider sticking around his home state rather than testing the open market.
Acquiring Nelson would require some serious salary-cap gymnastics now that the Wild are operating in long-term injured reserve, but what's that old saying? Where there's a will, there's a way.
Right now, the Minnesota Wild is a one-man show. Kirill Kaprizov has 50 points this year, 20 more than his next closest teammate, and could use another goalscorer on his line. While Marco Rossi, his current center, has been doing a fine job, Nelson brings a veteran presence that could elevate the Wild's first line to a new level.
It now seems like a matter of time till Nelson is traded and once he does get moved, watch out for either Minnesota or Dallas to acquire his services.
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