The Colorado Avalanche had an active trade deadline season last year, all for naught however, as they did not lift the ultimate prize.
With a new year comes a new team makeup, and some of those players acquired last season have returned, none more important than second-line center Brock Nelson.
Likely to man the pivot between Landeskog and Nichushkin this season, Nelson should shore up a second-line center position that has been in flux ever since Nazem Kadri left the team some years ago. Nelson has a proven track record of production, and he accomplished that with lesser players than the current Avalanche roster employs.
Nelson’s totaled 45 or more points in seven of his 12 NHL seasons. He’s scored 20 or more goals nine different seasons and had 20 or more assists eight times over his career. He’s a reliable player as well, having missed only two games since 2021-22.
Now centering one pure goal scorer, Nichushkin, who should see an uptick in his point production being able to play with a player like Nelson, and Landeskog, a muck-it-up, do it all type player, Nelson should see plenty of space on the ice to continue to produce even more offensively.
The Avalanche coaching staff agrees with the previous sentiment, as head coach Jared Bednar stated recently, saying Nelson’s been a step ahead so far during camp, looking fast and comfortable.
It’s likely that Nelson’s contract status being sorted out has helped, as he re-signed in Colorado during the offseason on a three-year deal worth $7.5 million annually. With the NHL salary cap expected to rise exponentially, the Avalanche likely got a bargain only having to pay that price for a productive second-line player.
Another aspect of Nelson’s comfortability is his previous relationship with Avalanche new assistant coach Dave Hakstol, who coached Nelson while in college at North Dakota. It’s helpful to have a familiar voice on the bench amid the chaos of an NHL hockey game and Hakstol surely provides that for Nelson.
Hakstol agreed with Bednar that Nelson has been on another level thus far in camp, and big expectations are rampant for the veteran.
Intangibly, Nelson is a veteran leader that adds depth to the locker room leadership group. He’s played 85 career playoff games and a team expected to contend for the biggest prize in the game can’t be introducing young players into the pressures of the playoffs at this time. The Avalanche brass has a level of comfort with being able to rely on a seasoned player like Nelson during the grind of the second season. Nelson is also a bigger player at 6’4”, 205 pounds, and will add size to the Avalanche forward group.
If Nelson can continue his hot start into and through the season, the Avalanche will have top-six depth like they haven’t had in a few years. Teams won’t be able to just key on the top line during the playoffs and in turn, the team will see better matchups. The ultimate prize is within grasp, and Nelson solidifying the second line puts the Avs on a path to reach that goal.