The New York Islanders are continuing to face significant challenges in scoring goals, a trend that has persisted over the past several years. Despite Brock Nelson being one of the few players who reliably scores, his future with the team may be uncertain.
With a record of 9-10-6 through 25 games, the Islanders sit near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division. The roster lacks sufficient offensive power to remain competitive in the crowded Eastern Conference, which could prompt General Manager Lou Lamoriello to consider trading players before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7.
According to a source speaking to RG’s Jim Biringer, “Nelson was a potential trade candidate last year and might have been moved if the team hadn’t been in playoff contention. His consistency as a 30-goal scorer makes him valuable.”
The source added that “contending teams are showing interest, especially if the team keeps struggling. Vancouver had tried to acquire him last year and might pursue him again.”
Nelson stands out as one of the Islanders’ key trade assets; he is tied for the team lead with 10 goals, and has contributed seven assists for 17 points this season. Over the past three years, he scored 34, 36, and 37 goals respectively, and is on track for a similar output this year.
At 33, he has been a significant player for the Islanders both at even strength and on the power play. Given the team’s lackluster performance, it’s likely that he could be traded if the situation doesn’t improve.
The Islanders have struggled this season, further compounded by injuries to key players Mathew Barzal, Anthony Duclair, and Adam Pelech, which has thwarted their playoff aspirations.
The outlook for the Islanders is not optimistic. They are one of the older teams in the league and lack high-level prospects since the Oliver Wahlstrom experiment did not pan out as hoped.
Head coach Patrick Roy has made some surprising comments regarding Lamoriello, who may be under pressure as the team underperforms.
A source mentioned, “There were voices within the organization that wanted Lamoriello out before last season, but they were outvoted. He secured his job with last year’s playoff appearance.”
The Islanders barely made the playoffs in 2023-24, only to be eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round for the second consecutive year. This season does not inspire much hope for a playoff berth without a significant turnaround.
“Yes, they will likely sell, but that will depend on whether they think they’re truly out of contention,” the source revealed. “Lamoriello wants to see how the team performs when everyone is healthy.”
While the team would certainly benefit from having Barzal, Duclair, and Pelech back, none are nearing a return. Time is running out for both the Islanders’ playoff hopes and possibly for Nelson’s place on Long Island.
