Former Islander Brock Nelson re-signs with Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche center Brock Nelson against the Dallas Stars in Game 2 of a first-round playoff series last April. Credit: AP/Julio Cortez
Brock Nelson is taking the same deal the Islanders offered in March to remain with the Colorado Avalanche.
The former Islanders center agreed to a three-year extension, the Avalanche announced on Wednesday. The deal carries an annual average value of $7.5 million. Newsday reported in March that former president/general manager Lou Lamoriello offered Nelson a three-year, $22.5 million deal as the Islanders’ last, best offer.
But Nelson rejected that and Lamoriello promptly traded Nelson and AHL forward William Dufour to Colorado on March 6 – one day before the NHL trade deadline – and acquired a first-round selection in 2026 or 2027, a conditional third-round pick in 2028, forward Calum Ritchie, the 27th pick in 2023, and defenseman Oliver Kylington.
The Islanders retained 50% of Nelson’s $6 million cap hit as he completed the final season of a six-year, $36 million deal.
“My family and I are excited to be staying in Colorado,” Nelson said in a statement released by the Avalanche. “Having spent my entire career with one organization, we weren’t totally sure what to expect when we arrived in Denver. But getting the opportunity to play for the Avalanche, to compete with a great group of teammates in that locker room, and in front of the tremendous fans at Ball Arena, we knew this was where we wanted to stay.”
Nelson, who turns 34 on Oct. 15, is a native of Warroad, Minnesota, and it was speculated throughout the season he eventually would sign with the Minnesota Wild as a unrestricted free agent.
“We’re thrilled to have reached an agreement with Brock to keep him in Colorado for the next three seasons,” Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland said in a statement. “He’s been a great center in this league for a long time.”
Nelson had six goals and seven assists in 19 regular-season games after being traded to the Avalanche. He compiled 295 goals and 279 assists in 901 regular-season games with the Islanders and is fourth on the organization’s all-time list of games played.
He led the team in goals in the five previous seasons to this past season.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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