The Islanders made a major move at the NHL trade deadline late Thursday, trading franchise staple Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche. In exchange, New York received Cal Ritchie, Oliver Kylington, a first-round pick (either in 2026 or 2027), and a conditional third-round pick in 2028. The Islanders then traded Kylington to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations.
The first-round pick is protected in the top 10 for 2026, and if Colorado’s first-round pick in 2025 doesn’t go to Philadelphia (after a previous trade), it will become a 2027 pick instead. The third-round pick would only materialize if the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup and Nelson plays in at least half of their playoff games. The Islanders retained 50% of Nelson’s contract, creating a $3 million cap hit for them as part of the deal.
This trade marks a significant change for the Islanders, signaling a shift in their approach after years of resisting core changes, particularly following their 2021-22 season derailment due to a COVID outbreak. Moving Nelson, a longtime Islander and alternate captain, is a major step away from the team’s previous strategy. It’s the kind of change the Islanders didn’t make in 2018 when they kept John Tavares in the hopes of re-signing him, which ultimately didn’t happen.
From a return perspective, the Islanders received a solid haul. Ritchie, a 2023 first-round pick regarded as an elite prospect, is a standout acquisition. The 20-year-old made his NHL debut this season with Colorado, and is currently playing with Oshawa in the OHL, where he has 67 points (14 goals, 53 assists). The first-round pick is an additional bonus, solidifying this deal as a foundation for the Islanders’ future.
Despite efforts to sign Nelson to an extension, negotiations broke down, leading to the trade. Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello, despite his repeated belief in the current roster, could not justify keeping Nelson without an extension, knowing he could leave for nothing in the summer. With Nelson now traded, the focus shifts to Kyle Palmieri, another top-six forward whose contract also expires at the end of the season. The return for Palmieri may not match what the Islanders got for Nelson, but with no extension in place as of Thursday night, a trade seems increasingly likely.
With the trade market taking shape, the Islanders could expect at least a second and fourth-round pick for Palmieri, though it’s possible a first-round pick could be in play depending on how the market unfolds. While Lamoriello will be reluctant to weaken the team’s playoff chances, with the Islanders just four points out of a playoff spot, the long-anticipated pivot to the future is finally underway.
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