Islanders' Brock Nelson looks forward to 4 Nations Face-Off 

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesotan Brock Nelson stepped onto the ice at Xcel Energy Center as an Islander for the 11th time in his career on Saturday night.

There’s plenty of speculation around the NHL now that the next time he does — barring an improbable Islanders-Wild Stanley Cup Final — the pending unrestricted free agent will be a member of the home team.

“Everyone thinks Nelson is going to sign with Minnesota,” ESPN+ play-by-play announcer John Buccigross said while broadcasting the Islanders’ 5-2 win over the visiting Avalanche on Jan. 28. “It’s like the worst-kept secret in hockey that he’ll be with the Wild next year.”

Two things of note: First, Nelson has not publicly given any indication of his thinking regarding his playing future other than to repeatedly say he is very happy with the Islanders, with whom he’s spent his whole career. Second, Islanders president/general manager Lou Lamoriello is the best in the business at keeping secrets.

The Islanders concluded a two-game road trip against the Wild on Saturday night after losing to the NHL-leading Jets, 4-3, on Friday night. It was their last game before a two-week break for the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off.

But there will be no hiatus for Nelson, the only Islander selected to one of the four national squads, as he’ll play for Team USA.

Wild general manager Bill Guerin also is Team USA’s GM and Wild coach John Hynes is a Team USA assistant on Mike Sullivan’s staff.

Nelson, who is concluding a six-year, $36 million deal, is from Warroad, Minnesota, about a six-hour drive north of St. Paul, close to the U.S.-Canada border. So Warroad is actually much closer to Winnipeg, Manitoba, with that drive clocking in at about 2 hours, 20 minutes.

“It’s always fun going back home,” Nelson said after Friday’s loss in Winnipeg. “Even here, my hometown is closer to here, so I have some family that come from Warroad to this one. Then I have a lot of friends, family that I see in Minneapolis/St. Paul. So any time you get to go back and play in front of them, see them, say hi and share that experience with them, it’s always fun.”

The season-long speculation about Nelson’s future is natural for a high-profile potential UFA. The NHL trade deadline is March 7 and it’s still very conceivable that Nelson could get moved as a trade rental, though Lamoriello’s past history suggests he will not subtract a key piece from his team if it is in the middle of a playoff race.

Which is where the Islanders’ recent run of strong play has put them for now. They entered Saturday’s game four points out of the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot, having won 11 of their previous 15 games.

Lamoriello said on Jan. 9 that trading Nelson and fellow pending UFA Kyle Palmieri rather than risk losing either of them for no return was “not even a thought in my mind right now.”

“The focus is on who we are here right now, not hypothetically, if this, if that,” Lamoriello said that day. “I’m just not from that school. We’re just focused on playing the best hockey we can and seeing where we’re at at that appropriate time.”

Nelson repeatedly has said he has not focused on the business side of hockey.  That’s for his agent, Ben Hankinson, and Lamoriello to discuss.

And after Saturday’s game, his immediate focus was to help Team USA.

“It’s such a new experience,” Nelson told Newsday on Tuesday. “I’m just excited to be in the mix. It’s going to be a great time. It’s a special thing to represent the country. Seeing that roster of guys and the skill and the talent, to be around those guys and try and go out there and just play hockey.

“At the same time, soak up a couple of things and try to learn a few things as well and win the tournament; those are the main three things.”

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

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.