The New York Islanders have traded centre Brock Nelson and William Dufour to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Calum Ritchie, Oliver Kylington (who the Islanders flipped to the Anaheim Ducks,) a first-round pick in either the 2026 or 2027 NHL Entry Draft, and a conditional 2028 third-round pick.
Sniper Nelson Joins Formidable Avalanche Attack
Nelson has been one of the league’s biggest pieces of trade bait since J.T. Miller came off the board in January, and it’s easy to see why. The 33-year-old veteran — yes, he’s just 33, despite what some think after seeing his viral silver-haired 4 Nations Face-Off photo — has scored 30-plus goals in each of the past three seasons and has potted 20 this season along with 23 for 43 points in 61 games.
Nelson, a pending unrestricted free agent, has spent his entire 12-season career with the Islanders since being selected by them 30th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. In 901-career games, he has 295 goals and 279 assists for 574 points and 27 goals and 23 assists for 50 points in 78 playoff games.
Nelson will join an already-formidable Avalanche attack that features Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas (acquired in January,) and Cale Makar, among others. The move is a very clear signal general manager Chris MacFarland believes his team is capable of capturing another Stanley Cup with the current core after they hoisted it in 2022. They currently sit fourth in the Central Division with a 37-24-2 record for 76 points.
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The Islanders are retaining 50 per cent of Nelson’s $6 million salary.
Going along with Nelson is William Dufour, a 23-year-old right winger chosen by the Islanders in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has played one NHL game and has eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points for the American Hockey League’s Bridgeport Islanders this season.
Islanders Get Intriguing Mix in Return
The Islanders, fading in the Eastern Conference wild-card race and sitting sixth in the Metropolitan Division, are losing established talent and a franchise favourite but getting an intriguing mix of assets in return.
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A first-round pick is nothing to sneeze at, but arguably just as big a piece in the deal is Calum Ritchie, a first-rounder himself (27th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft currently playing for the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals. The 20-year-old right-shot centre has racked up 14 goals and 53 assists for 67 points in just 41 games this season.
If the Avalanche’s 2026’s first rounder transfers to the Philadelphia Flyers or is a top-10 selection, the first-rounder the Islanders are getting will revert to 2027. The Islanders will only get the 2028 third-rounder if the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup and Nelson plays in 50 per cent of the games.