Why the Winnipeg Jets Make a Perfect Trade Partner for Brock Nelson

Welcome to another week of Brock Nelson speculation. The saga continues, but today, I explain why the Winnipeg Jets make the most sense for a Nelson trade. Winnipeg is the perfect fit between assets, value, and cap space.

The situation with Nelson is more unknown than known. He’s in Boston, where the United States will play Sweden tonight before playing in the 4 Nations Championship game Thursday night. Reportedly, the New York Islanders are desperately trying to re-sign Nelson and have clarity entering into the Trade Deadline.

However, clarity is unlikely to come soon. Nelson is focused on the tournament, and Lou Lamoriello, the Islanders’ President and General Manager, will use as much time as possible.

That doesn’t stop the rumblings from Winnipeg, Manitoba, that the Jets are prepared to go all-in this year.

Reason #1: Winnipeg Owns their 2025 First

One big story this season and at the trade deadline is the number of teams without their own first-round picks. In fact, the majority of rumored Nelson suitors, including the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars, do not own their pick.

Winnipeg, however, owns their own pick. They also own the most cap space of any potential suitor, making any deal that much easier to strike.

The Athletic and SDPN’s Chris Johnston alluded to teams being reluctant to deal their 2026 firsts for a rental, something that could drastically lower prices at this deadline for many players. Without a first-rounder coming back, Lamoriello wouldn’t deal with Nelson.

There’s a well-known price for Nelson, and it’s mighty similar to the price the Islanders paid for Bo Horvat. Winnipeg has the perfect pieces to do it.

Colby Barlow or Brad Lambert: Both Options

Reports have started emerging that the Jets want to go all-in this season. Colby Barlow and Brad Lambert are two blue-chip prospects the team may be willing to trade to strike.

The Jets selected Barlow, 20, 18th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. He’s a highly-touted prospect and ranked within the top 100 within drafted prospects by The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler. Here’s a bit of his profile courtesy of Wheeler:

“Barlow plays a direct, intentional game built around good hands, a physically mature pro frame, and an NHL shot (he can cleanly beat goalies from midrange). He’s also an able penalty killer, which could give him all-situations upside at the next level. Whether he becomes a middle-six secondary scorer at the NHL level will be determined by his skating…”

That’s a ringing endorsement. Not to mention, a physical player who can put the puck in the net all while playing responsible hockey? That sounds like an Islander. There’s some concern over his skating, but it’s not expected to hinder his ability to develop. He’s got an NHL-style body already, something the Islanders would like.

As for Lambert, Winnipeg selected him 30th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. Lambert, 21, has played six NHL games at this point and recorded just two assists. Last season, he torched the AHL for 21 goals and 55 points in just 64 games. However, playing on a pretty bad AHL Manitoba Moose squad has been a struggle this season. He’s recorded three goals and 20 points through 35 games.

Wheeler ranked Lambert 25 prospects higher than Barlow, as his high-end skating and skill give him an incredibly high ceiling despite some physical warts.

Both have been touted as trade chips to bring in more talent for the Jets to claim the Stanley Cup. The Islanders would likely land one of these prospects in a deal for Nelson.

Final Mock Trade:

To Winnipeg: Brock Nelson (50% Retained)

To New York: 2025 1st, Colby Barlow, 2026 Cond. 3rd (if WPG makes SCF, the pick becomes a 2026 2nd)

This is the final mock trade I landed on for Nelson to Winnipeg. It follows the same formula as the Horvat trade, with a first-round pick and a top prospect heading the other way. Instead of a roster player like Anthony Beauvillier, the Islanders land another pick in 2026, where they currently do not have their 2026 2nd due to trading away Josh Bailey’s contract.

If the Islanders truly wanted a young forward back, Rasmus Kupari could fit. However, the former first-round pick has shown extremely little on a very good team and holds essentially no real value at this point in time. Kupari has recorded eight points in his last 80 NHL games over the last two seasons. Lamoriello passes on him for another tradable asset.