Islanders Unlikely To Trade Brock Nelson: Report

The New York Islanders' season has been disappointing and injuries have played a part in that. Regardless, general manager Lou Lamoriello continues to keep things under wraps as he always has. There's not too much indication of what he is going to do, but there is an idea.

Elliotte Friedman said that "his peers find it very hard to believe he will move an unsigned Brock Nelson if the Islanders are anywhere near a playoff position." This means that any talk of the 12-12-7 team that sits one point back of a playoff spot and 10th in the Eastern Conference isn't anywhere close to making a move like that.

A little bit ago there might have been a different opinion with an Islanders team that was lower down in the standings. The team hasn't exactly done much better, but there are a lot of teams struggling or playing average that has allowed the Islanders to stay in the mix.

Nelson was selected to Team U.S.A. for the 4 Nations Face-Off and while he only has 10 goals and 19 points in 31 games this season, he is a very reliable veteran and has put up 34+ goals in three consecutive seasons playing on the second line of a team that scores below the average in the NHL every year.

Nelson is in the sixth and final year of his contract that carries a cap hit of $6 million AAV. This is a great deal for the Islanders all these years and he is going to get a higher salary on his next deal, even at age 33.

It remains to be seen if Nelson, at his age, is in the future plans of the Islanders. It seems like there are always plenty of veterans on the team and Lamoriello is holding onto the success a number of these players helped bring when the team went to the conference finals two years in a row. If the Islanders do fall completely off and Nelson is traded, some team is going to have a nice upgrade, but if he finishes the season in New York, I don't see the Islanders being able to bring him back unless they offer a longer term.