Insider: It’s “Malpractice" If Islanders Don't Trade Brock Nelson

Brock Nelson remains at the top of all trade boards around the league, as the New York Islanders continue to sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, after another loss, 4-0 Monday night to the NY Rangers. The Isles are five points out of a Wild Card, but with five other teams to leapfrog first.

Insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period tells us that he hears the Islanders are finally open for business this week.

The veteran goalscorer Nelson has spent his entire 12-year career on Long Island, and he and the team have a mutual love for each other. But GM Lou Lamoriello can't pass up on this golden opportunity to bring in some assets for the pending UFA, can he? Now that talks have finally begun, Insider Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff would be absolutely flabbergasted if a trade isn't made:

I don't know how to say it other than this, which is: if Brock Nelson is somehow an Islander past 3:01pm eastern time on Friday, it is malpractice and malfeasance. This team is not good, they are not anywhere near competing, and they do not need to re-sign for any period of time a guy who turns 34 soon. It doesn't make any sense. He's the premier rental center available. He absolutely should be moved.

In fact, if the Islanders love him so much, the insider adds, they can trade him now and go re-sign him in free agency on July 1st. "That's the play, and if not, I don't know what they're doing."

There are a number of playoff contenders looking for a center to solidify their roster, and a guy coming off three straight 30-goal seasons, and on pace for a 26-goal year this campaign, is going to bring Lamoriello a very nice return.

Nelson has 19 goals and 41 points in 60 games with a +1 rating.

He's performed well in the playoffs over the course of his career, which is obviously something contenders are interested in; he has 27 goals in 78 postseason games. Not to mention the fact that he looked good in crunch time during the recent 4 Nations Face-Off for Team USA.

The suitors are obvious for the Warroad, Minnesota native, from the Minnesota Wild to the Winnipeg Jets (both close to his hometown), to the Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and other playoff contenders in need of some punch up the middle.