The Colorado Avalanche had one more ace up their sleeves, pulling off a blockbuster late at night, bringing in Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders in exchange for a package of picks.
Frankly, I have to say the New York Islanders got the better of this deal, hands down. Don’t get me wrong, Brock Nelson is a great addition. He’s precisely the second-line center the Avalanche have needed to play behind all-world center Nathan MacKinnon.
But the cost is what has me scratching my head.
First, here’s a rundown of what the trade looks like:
Avalanche get:
- C Brock Nelson
- F William Dufour
Islanders get:
- D Oliver Kylington
- F Calum Ritchie
- Conditional first-round pick in 2026
- Conditional third-round pick in 2028
As a side note, the Isles immediately flipped Kylington to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations. Also, the Isles retained 50% of Nelson’s cap hit.
Now, let’s get to the analysis. The obvious piece here is Nelson. This is a major coup for the Avalanche. Nelson automatically makes the Avs a much deeper team, essentially pushing everyone down the depth chart.
Coach Jared Bednar can now deploy Casey Mittelstadt on the third line with Jack Drury becoming arguably the league’s best fourth-line center. That center depth will all of a sudden become the envy of the NHL.
Nelson will likely play with Valeri Nichushkin and Jonathan Drouin. Those two will instantly elevate Nelson’s game. On Long Island, Nelson had lacked high-end wingers. He’ll get them in Colorado. Moreover, Nelson will have a chance to play in a system that’s much more conducive to his speed and overall playmaking skills.
The downside is that Nelson will be a free agent at the end of this season. Given the cost it took to get him, I am afraid this was a huge overpay. But, we’ll talk about that down the road.
As for William Dufour, he won’t replace Calum Ritchie on the Avs depth chart, but he’s a gritty forward with middle-six potential. He didn’t get a fair shot in New York. So, he’ll certainly get a look in Colorado. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a cup of coffee with the Avs this season before everything is said and done.