Insider Drops Updated List of 5 Likely Landing Spots for Brock Nelson

Brock Nelson will be one of the top available centers on the trade market as we get closer to the deadline. Coming off three straight 30+ goal seasons in his later-career resurgence, his offensive output is down this year, but demand will still be high for the 33 year-old if the New York Islanders do pull the trigger.

A large number of contenders are in the market for a productive center, making Nelson's value even higher.

Insider Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff writes that the Isles should expect to get a return for Nelson similar to what the Calgary Flames got from the Vancouver Canucks last year for center Elias Lindholm (a first-rounder, a fourth-rounder, plus Andrei Kuzmenko, Hunter Brzustewicz, and Joni Jurmo), or what the Canucks got from the Islanders the year before for Bo Horvat (first-rounder, plus Anthony Beauvillier, and Aatu Raty).

He then suggested five teams that make the most sense as a landing spot for Nelson (in alphabetical order):

Boston Bruins

They are 26th in the NHL in goals per game, and are one of the most desperate teams looking for a boost at center. But their tight cap situation makes it unlikely they could pull it off.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Canes certainly won't shy away from trying to land the biggest names they can at the trade deadline – they did it last year acquiring Jake Guentzel, and they're already in talks for JT Miller from the Vancouver Canucks. If that doesn't come through, Nelson could be part of a Plan B.

Minnesota Wild

The Wild have been said to be in the market for another scorer, and as Seravalli notes, in particular, a "higher-end center that they could confidently re-sign." And Nelson is from Minnesota, to boot.

New Jersey Devils

They're said to be looking for a center at the trade deadline, though Seravalli wonders if Nelson and his $6M cap hit might be above their price point.

Winnipeg Jets

The Jets improved at the pivot at last year's deadline, acquiring Sean Monahan, but after his defection in free agency, they're left with the same need this time around.