"The deal was a homerun for the Isles as they landed several key pieces to aid their retool. That trade, it seems, was so shrewd that it will now serve as a comp for another potential blockbuster trade this season. Insider Elliotte Friedman discussed during the January 24 edition of Saturday Headlines that the Islanders' crosstown rivals, the New York Rangers, could be using Nelson's trade as the model for the impending trade of Artemi Panarin."
"At the time, the Brock Nelson trade didn't sit very well with Islanders' fans. The move seemed like a capitulation on a sour season. Still, the trade is looking even better in hindsight. The emergence of Calum Ritchie as a bona fide NHL center has made this deal age nicely. The 21-year-old has seven goals and 15 points in 40 games this season. That's not bad, especially when considering he's held onto the third-line center spot for the bulk of the season."
The Islanders traded impending UFA Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche and received top prospect Calum Ritchie, a first-round pick, a third-round pick, and depth defenseman Oliver Kylington. Calum Ritchie has emerged as a reliable NHL center, recording seven goals and 15 points in 40 games while holding the third-line center role. The first-round pick is top-10 protected, with the 2026 selection potentially converting to the Avalanche's 2027 pick if conditions are met. The Nelson return is now being cited as a blueprint for the potential trade package required to acquire Artemi Panarin, though interested teams capable of meeting that price remain unclear.
Read at Eyes On Isles
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