Last season, the New York Islanders made a bold move that raised eyebrows across the league - shipping out veteran forward Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche. At the time, it felt like a concession in the middle of a frustrating campaign.
But now? That trade’s looking more and more like a masterstroke.
The Islanders walked away with a package that checked all the boxes for a team retooling on the fly: a top prospect in Calum Ritchie, a first-round pick, a third-rounder down the line, and defenseman Oliver Kylington, who helped balance the cap sheet. Fast forward to today, and that deal is starting to serve as a blueprint - particularly for the Islanders’ crosstown rivals.
According to insider Elliotte Friedman, the New York Rangers could be eyeing a similar return if they decide to move Artemi Panarin. That’s right - Panarin, the Rangers’ offensive engine, could be on the trade block, and the Nelson deal might be the model.
Let’s unpack that.
The Isles got three key assets in the Nelson deal. Ritchie, who was Colorado’s top prospect at the time, has stepped into the NHL with surprising poise.
The 21-year-old has carved out a role as the Islanders’ third-line center, tallying seven goals and 15 points through 40 games. That’s not earth-shattering production, but for a rookie center handling tough matchups and minutes, it’s a solid foundation.
He’s showing flashes of the two-way game that made him a first-rounder, and his growth trajectory gives the Isles a legitimate piece for the future.
Then there’s the draft capital. The Islanders are in line to receive the Avalanche’s 2026 first-round pick - unless it lands in the top 10, in which case it defers to 2027.
But let’s be real: Colorado isn’t trending toward the bottom of the standings anytime soon. So odds are, the Isles will get that 2026 pick, likely somewhere in the late first round.
Those picks don’t always yield stars, but they’re valuable currency - either as future contributors or as chips in another trade.
The third-rounder, slated for 2028, is a bit of a wild card. It’s far enough out that it’s tough to project, but that’s the thing about draft picks - you never really know when one might turn into a diamond in the rough. At worst, it’s another asset in the cupboard.
And then there’s Kylington. He wasn’t the centerpiece of the deal, but he served a purpose - giving the Islanders a depth defenseman while helping the Avs offload some salary. Every contender needs those middle-tier roster players to eat minutes, and Kylington filled that role quietly but effectively.
All of this makes the Nelson trade a compelling case study - and one the Rangers appear to be watching closely as they weigh their options with Panarin. The challenge, of course, is finding a team willing to pay a premium price.
Nelson was a solid top-six forward, but Panarin? He’s a game-changer, a point-per-game winger who can tilt the ice in his team’s favor.
If the Rangers are serious about moving him, they’ll want - and should expect - a haul that matches or exceeds what the Isles got for Nelson.
That means a top-tier prospect, high-end picks, and possibly a roster player to make the money work. It’s a steep ask, but as we saw with Colorado last year, a team chasing a Cup might just be willing to swing big.
For the Islanders, the Nelson trade is aging like fine wine. Ritchie is developing into a reliable NHL center, the picks are lining up nicely, and the cap flexibility has helped the team stay competitive while building for the future. It’s the kind of deal that can quietly reshape a franchise’s trajectory - and now, it might influence the next big move across town.