On the ice, Brock Nelson is a consummate professional dedicated to mastering his craft; Off the ice, he is a modest, grounded presence who approaches every situation with genuine heart and compassion.
We got a taste of this Saturday morning at practice at the Family Sports Center as he prepares to face the New York Islanders for the first time since being traded to Colorado in March for defenseman Oliver Kylington, prospect Calum Ritchie, a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a conditional third-round pick in 2028. He then signed a three-year extension worth $22.5 million dollars with the Avalanche in June.
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“There’s a lot of guys I haven’t seen since the trade,” Nelson said. “It’ll be good to hang out with them today. It’ll be a little different playing against them. These are guys that…I’ve known their routine and all that for over a decade.”
After spending part of 13 seasons with one organization, only to have everything change in one transaction, The Hockey News asked Nelson how difficult it was to process the trade, especially after likely considering a career spent entirely with one team.
“It took a little while for sure, I mean I always keep an eye on all the guys,” Nelson admitted. “I always wish them the best. Obviously, maybe not tomorrow.”
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Nelson said he didn’t really lose any sleep over the trade, but he thought a lot about the relationships he made along the way with everyone connected to the Islanders organization.
Nelson said he didn’t really lose sleep over the trade, but reflected on the relationships he’s built over the years with everyone connected to the Islanders organization.
“I know the ins and outs of everything, the staff, the player personnel and the whole team. I had to reintegrate a little bit, it took a little time, but it’s just day by day now.”
We also discussed Nelson’s decision to stay with the Avalanche. The second-line center signed a three-year extension with Colorado on June 4, worth an average annual value of $7.5 million. Nelson noted that Zach Parise – who spent two seasons with the Islanders before finishing his career in Colorado and retiring after the 2024 season – played a significant role in his choice to stay with the Avalanche.
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Although Nelson acknowledged having conversations with Parise, he also said the media reports raised concerns.
“I talked to him a little bit,” he revealed. “A lot of reports said I wouldn’t come back here. I think people were speculating a little bit. That wasn’t true.
“I got to know (Parise) pretty well with the Islanders; we played with him for a few years. I saw a lot of his family this summer and was able to talk to him about his time here and his experience here, and get a little taste of it as well. He’s really helped me out. Ultimately, it’s a great place to have a chance to win (the Stanley Cup) for several years, and I want to be a part of it.”
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