Islanders' Brock Nelson named to All-Star team
Brock Nelson of the Islanders shoots the puck during the third period against the Penguins UBS Arena on Dec. 27, 2022. Credit: Jim McIsaac
EDMONTON, Alberta — Brock Nelson is truly a first-time NHL All-Star. He never attended one growing up — the last one in his home state of Minnesota was 2004 — and he still was nine months from being born when his uncle, Dave Christian, played in the 1991 game.
But the Islanders center was selected to the Metropolitan Division squad by the NHL Hockey Operations Department for this season’s All-Star Weekend in Sunrise, Florida, on Feb. 3-4, the league announced Thursday.
Nelson leads the Islanders with 15 goals and is second on the team with 38 points.
“It’s exciting, for sure,” he said. “There’s a couple of guys you could probably make the case: Sorokie [goalie Ilya Sorokin], Barzy [Mathew Barzal], Dobber [defenseman Noah Dobson]. Guys having some big years.
“I don’t know if it’s something you think about, but you’re aware of it. You want to come out and perform and help the team win. It’s something I’ll remember for sure.”
Fan voting, which runs through Jan. 17, will select three additional players to each divisional squad.
Nelson, 31, grew up in Warroad, Minnesota, about a six-hour drive to St. Paul, where the Wild play.
“I only went to one Minnesota game growing up,” Nelson said when asked about the 2004 All-Star Game at the Xcel Energy Center. “Maybe I would have watched it on TV, but that might have been far for us to go.”
Isles files
Dobson logged a team-high 22:12 with three shots in his 200th NHL game . . . Coach Lane Lambert said RW Simon Holmstrom (injured reserve/lower body) has resumed skating and RW Oliver Wahlstrom (injured reserve/lower body) has not. Lambert said D Adam Pelech (injured reserve/suspected head injury) “will skate soon.’’ Pelech has been out since Dec. 6 . . . LW Ross Johnston and D Robin Salo were the healthy scratches.
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.
