The New York Islanders, unable to reach agreement on a contract extension for Brock Nelson, dealt the veteran forward to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.
Nelson and forward William Dufour were dealt in exchange for defenseman Oliver Kylington, forward Calum Ritchie, a first-round pick in the 2026 draft and another conditional draft pick.
Nelson, 33, is due to be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
The trade sends Nelson away from what had been his lone NHL team, as the Islanders made him a first-round pick in the 2010 draft. He played 12 seasons for New York and was an All-Star in 2023.
In 901 career games, Nelson has 295 goals and 279 assists. This season, he increased his totals to 20 goals and 23 assists with one of each on Tuesday in the Islanders’ 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
Dufour, 23, has just one game of NHL experience, on Jan. 18, 2023. He had been playing his third season with the Islanders’ AHL Bridgeport affiliate, and he had eight goals and 10 assists in 45 games during the 2024-25 campaign.
Kylington, 27, was in his first season with the Avalanche after playing parts of six seasons with the Calgary Flames. In 13 games this campaign, he has one goal and three assists.
Ritchie, a 20-year-old rookie, began his NHL career by playing seven games (one goal, no assists) for Colorado early this season. Through 41 games for OHL Oshawa, he had 14 goals and 53 assists.
Despite winning three of their past four games, the Islanders are four points out of the second Eastern Conference wild-card position. The Avalanche are tied for third place in the Central Division after beating the San Jose Sharks on Thursday for their fourth consecutive victory.
–Field Level Media
