The New York Islanders have traded center Brock Nelson and forward William Dufour to the Colorado Avalanche for prospect Calum Ritchie, a first-round pick in either 2026 or 2027, a conditional third-round pick in 2028, and defensemen Oliver Kylington. The Islanders then immediately traded Kylington to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations.

The Avalanche receive:

Nelson, who has averaged 35 goals in each of his past three seasons. The 33-year-old Nelson has also reached 20 goals nine times in his career, including this season. His production has actually increased after turning 30, with his two highest point totals coming in 2022-23 (75 PTS) and 2023-24 (69 PTS). He finishes his Islanders tenure on a high note with 10 points in his last seven games.

Dufour, a prospect who has spent the past three seasons in the AHL. He has 16 points in 44 games for the Bridgeport Islanders this season.

The Islanders will also retain half of Nelson's $6 million cap hit for his contract, which expires after this season.

The Islanders receive:

Ritchie, a blue-chip prospect who was the Avalanche's 2023 first-round pick (27^th overall). He has racked up 67 points in 41 games for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL while also playing on Canada's World Junior team. He has the potential to help fantasy teams one day with scoring, shots, and faceoffs.

Draft picks to help with a possible rebuild or retool.  

Fantasy impact:

Nelson should fill a second-line role for the Avalanche behind NHL points leader Nathan MacKinnon. Casey Mittelstadt was thought to be the guy for that role when he was acquired last season, but he has just 11 goals on the season and only two points in his last nine games. Nelson is an upgrade on Mittelstadt because he scores more goals, he shoots the puck more, and he wins more faceoffs. Unless either Mittelstadt or Nelson is somehow moved to the wing (both show as C only on Yahoo), Mittelstadt stands to lose more value than Nelson could gain in this trade. Second-line wingers Valeri Nichushkin and Jonathan Drouin should also receive an upgrade as a result.

Nelson has just four power-play points this season after hitting double-digits in each of his past three seasons. The Avalanche may be just as inclined to take advantage of his penalty-killing ability (3 SHG) as they are of his power-play skills. Having an extra forward to take faceoffs on the power play might be the path for Nelson to get on to the first unit, which could bump either Drouin or Artturi Lehkonen from PP1.

Nelson's most frequent linemate on the Islanders was Kyle Palmieri, who is also a UFA after the season. Unless he is also traded before the deadline, Palmieri could stand to lose value. Jean-Gabriel Pageau seems like the most likely player to move into the Islanders' top 6 with Nelson gone.

Players this helps, in order:

Nelson

Nichushkin

Drouin

Pageau

Players this hurts, in order:

Mittelstadt

Palmieri

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