Canucks Reportedly Attempting to Acquire Islanders Forward They Targeted Last Year

The New York Islanders face a challenging season, with veteran center Brock Nelson emerging as a prime trade candidate amid the team's struggles.

At 33, Nelson remains a consistent performer, having notched three straight 30-goal seasons and adding 10 thus far in the 2024-25 season.

Yet even with his consistent production, the Islanders have managed a mediocre 9-10-6 record, keeping them outside the playoff picture and throwing into question the long-term future of an aging core that includes Bailey.

It's Nelson, in the last season of a $6 million deal, who has come back into the trade rumor mill, with a plethora of key player injuries to the likes of Mathew Barzal and Adam Pelech further derailing the club's rough start.

And the Vancouver Canucks, who made one heck of a push to acquire Nelson at last year's trade deadline, according to Jim Biringer of RG.org, are still among the more interested suitors.

While the Islanders held on to Nelson last season in a bid for the playoffs, the ambition from Vancouver itself spoke to his value, a skilled, versatile center with a streak of proven playoff experience.

He's a wanted man around the league for this season, especially with Vancouver continuing to make a push in the tight Pacific and wanting center-ice depth.

Even better if the Islanders retain some of his salary, too. He's a great fit for their playoff aspirations, bringing a mix of offense and defensive reliability to the mix.

And with the NHL trade deadline rapidly approaching, a whole string of competitive teams may circle back to see where Nelson stands on his market availability, including Vancouver.

The Nelson deal could be the first domino in a roster retool for the Islanders, and perhaps even a stop to general manager Lou Lamoriello's ridiculous "win-now" approach.