NHL Trade Deadline: Colorado Avalanche Acquire Brock Nelson From New York Islanders On Busy Day Of Deals
NHL Trade Deadline: Colorado Avalanche Acquire Brock Nelson From New York Islanders On Busy Day Of Deals
Blog Article
The Colorado Avalanche made a big splash on the eve of the NHL trade deadline late Thursday night by getting center Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders.
The move came hours after the Western Conference rival Vegas Golden Knights reacquired winger Reilly Smith in a deal with the New York Rangers. Much of the action came in the East, where the New Jersey Devils added on defense with Brian Dumoulin in a deal with the Anaheim Ducks, the Florida Panthers picked up depth center Nico Sturm from the San Jose Sharks and the New York Rangers also bought by acquiring Carson Soucy from the Vancouver Canucks.
The Avs sent defenseman Oliver Kylington, prospect Calum Ritchie, a 2026 first-round pick and a conditional third-rounder in 2028 to the Islanders for Nelson and 23-year-old winger William Dufour. Nelson, a pending unrestricted free agent, was considered one of the top players available. The Islanders almost immediately traded Kylington to the Ducks for future considerations.
The Devils’ acquisition of Dumoulin, sending a second-round pick in this year’s draft and the rights to unsigned 19-year-old prospect Herman Traff to the Ducks, comes after they learned leading scorer Jack Hughes is done for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery and with No. 1 defenseman Dougie Hamilton also out because of injury. With Hughes going on long-term injured reserve, they can add roughly $10 million worth of players before the deadline, even after getting Dumoulin because the Ducks are retaining half of Dumoulin’s salary.
The Rangers also are retaining half of what’s left of Smith’s salary and getting young forward Brendan Brisson and a 2025 third-round pick — previously belonging to last-place Sharks — back from the Golden Knights. Hours later, they sent that pick to the Canucks for Carson Soucy, a left-shooting defensemen under contract through next season who effectively replaces Ryan Lindgren after he was sent to the Avalanche.
Another player who fell out of favor with the Rangers, Smith has been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, to New York and back to Vegas since helping the Golden Knights win the Cup in 2023 as an alternate captain and original member of the expansion franchise.