Colorado Extends Brock Nelson; Helps Potential Islanders Trade Chip

The Colorado Avalanche signed Brock Nelson to a three-year, $22.5 million extension. That’s worth $7.5 million per season, a raise from his previous salary and cap hit with the New York Islanders.

The Islanders traded Nelson at the trade deadline after he rejected an almost identical offer to what Colorado did. In that deal, the Islanders acquired top prospect Calum Ritchie and a 2026 first-round pick from the Avalanche.

Nelson would’ve become one of the top centers available on July 1, with the only other options shaping up to potentially be John Tavares, Sam Bennett, and Matt Duchene.

Multiple teams are looking to improve their center depth, as is almost always the case in the NHL. This gives the Islanders a unique opportunity.

Pageau on the Block?

Jean-Gabriel Pageau has one year left on his contract at a $5 million cap hit. The Islanders have significant center depth, including Bo Horvat, Calum Ritchie, Casey Cizikas, and Kyle MacLean, while Mathew Barzal and Marc Gatcomb could shift back to their natural positions at any point in time.

That’s without Pageau. He becomes an option to be dealt if the Islanders want to shed salary to try and target a big free agent, such as Mitch Marner or Nikolaj Ehlers.

Pageau’s worth on the trade market could net upwards of a first-round pick, especially if the Islanders opt to retain any salary. It probably wouldn’t make any sense to retain, especially when the only reason you’d be moving the player is his cap hit.

He’s still an extremely effective player on all sides of the ice and was the statistical second-best face-off taker in the league last year with his 59.6 winning percentage.

For the Islanders, it only makes sense to deal Pageau if someone knocks your socks off. There are other, better ways of clearing salary, and keeping him gives you extra roster flexibility. Not to mention, if things aren’t going well next season, he can be dealt at the deadline for a potential premium, depending on the market.