Confirmed with Link: Avs acquire C Brock Nelson (50% retained) + F William Dufour for F Cal Ritchie + D Oliver Kylington + 2026 1st + Cond. 2028 3rd

[CobraAcesS]

Sad to see Nelson go. You guys got an elite sniper on your hands. Great 2 way center. Great on both PP and PK. If left in the open that wrist shot of his is money in the bank. He’s not a sloppy scorer playing the odds. He shoots with the intention to hit the back of the net when he wants and where he wants. I’d be very happy if I were an Avs fan. He’s a game breaker and don’t let his chronological age fool you. He still can skate like a twenty something. Hope you guys win the Cup with him unless by some grace of god the Isles meet you in the playoffs. Good luck!

The skating addition should not be understated.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

The skating addition should not be understated.

This geezer can scoot!

 

[CobraAcesS]

This geezer can scoot!

Yeah he can lol

 

[The Merchant]

 

[Avs_19]

That second line could be really fun and effective. You can envision Drouin working his magic down low and feeding Nelson in those areas in tight.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

1:13 he completely cooks Rantanen. Rants with his typical defending.

 

[The Moops]

Excited to see him on the PK

 

[The Moops]

1:13 he completely cooks Rantanen. Rants with his typical defending.

Think about the MacK is going to do to Rants in the first round

 

[impaaaaaact]

The skating addition should not be understated.

View attachment 989380

As an Isles fan that has watched probably 70% of the games in his career I gotta say this is kind of surprising. I’d say his speed reads squarely as average for the NHL.

Especially as a fanbase used to watching MacKinnon and Makar, don’t let that 98th percentile burst stat get your hopes up. He is not fast lol

 

[expatriatedtexan]

That second line could be really fun and effective. You can envision Drouin working his magic down low and feeding Nelson in those areas in tight.

Serious questions....

How does that map change after being with the Avs and Bednar for a few more games? My hope is that it wont, but experience tells me that Avs get players to play further out from the net than they did previously.

 

[CobraAcesS]

As an Isles fan that has watched probably 70% of the games in his career I gotta say this is kind of surprising. I’d say his speed reads squarely as average for the NHL.

Especially as a fanbase used to watching MacKinnon and Makar, don’t let that 98th percentile burst stat get your hopes up. He is not fast lol

When you see guys like Ryjo in that slot, you learn how valuable just being a good skater, and putting in full effort at that size can be.

Mitts skating stats were not bad either, but he was soft as butter.

I'm not saying he's fast, but being in the top half of the league in those stats helps when it comes to fitting into this team.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

When you see guys like Ryjo in that slot, you learn how valuable just being a good skater, and putting in full effort at that size can be.

Mitts skating stats were not bad either, but he was soft as butter.

I'm not saying he's fast, but being in the top half of the league in those stats helps when it comes to fitting into this team.

Oh... please rest asssured.. I have no problems with the player.

My question is the effect of Bednar's coaching and how we play. How is that going to change him? Because it will. It always does. That doesn't have to mean he'll be worse here. In fact, he could be much better. But every player changes once they get here to some degree.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Serious questions....

How does that map after being with the Avs and Bednar for a few more games? My hope is that it wont, but experience tells me that Avs get players to play further out from the net than they did previously.

Brother, you need a Xanax or something. That's not Bednar, it's the players that we've had to replace.

Totally get it on the hitting thing, but no, he's definitely not coaching perimeter hockey.

Druoin and Necas were both called perimeter guys a lot before coming here. So if you need solid examples there is two for you.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Oh... please rest asssured.. I have no problems with the player.

My question is the effect of Bednar's coaching and how we play. How is that going to change him? Because it will. It always does. That doesn't have to mean he'll be worse here. In fact, he could be much better. But every player changes once they get here to some degree.

Yeah, and often in good ways. There is a solid point about hitting specifically, but it stops there.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Yeah, and often in good ways. There is a solid point about hitting specifically, but it stops there.

Will watch some more before continuing but this is not matching up with my memory.

I will give you the benefit of the doubt though because I really don't trust my own memory that much anymore and I'm much, much to lazy to go and spend 5 or 10 minutes researching video before posting a shit thought here. *LOL*

 

[Avs9296]

Oh... please rest asssured.. I have no problems with the player.

My question is the effect of Bednar's coaching and how we play. How is that going to change him? Because it will. It always does. That doesn't have to mean he'll be worse here. In fact, he could be much better. But every player changes once they get here to some degree.

Nah, it's the players. Lehky and Nuke go straight to the net every chance they get. Landy did before he got hurt.

It's up to the players. No coach in the world would tell it's players to play perimeter hockey lol.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

That second line could be really fun and effective. You can envision Drouin working his magic down low and feeding Nelson in those areas in tight.

So he should stand behind the net basically. Interesting one of a kind

 

[John Mandalorian]

As an Isles fan that has watched probably 70% of the games in his career I gotta say this is kind of surprising. I’d say his speed reads squarely as average for the NHL.

Especially as a fanbase used to watching MacKinnon and Makar, don’t let that 98th percentile burst stat get your hopes up. He is not fast lol

There’s context to this that you’re missing. Speed is relevant because it’s something that the last two guys struggled with. Discussing his speed is more related to that. No one is expecting MacKinnon, Makar, Necas, or Burakovsky level skating. That’s absurd. He has good speed but probably just as importantly, he’s a north south skater. Good speed, north south, skillful finisher, and 6’4 on a team with others who are transitioning the puck and creating space is kind of where the picture comes together.

 

[impaaaaaact]

When you see guys like Ryjo in that slot, you learn how valuable just being a good skater, and putting in full effort at that size can be.

Mitts skating stats were not bad either, but he was soft as butter.

I'm not saying he's fast, but being in the top half of the league in those stats helps when it comes to fitting into this team.

For sure, he’s not slow and his skating won’t hinder chances. When I see something that says 98th percentile burst speed my brain goes to “creating chances” and that’s not the kind of skater he is. He will always keep up with the play for sure

 

[a mangy Meowth]

don’t let that 98th percentile burst stat get your hopes up. He is not fast lol

He's 98th percentile in 20+ mph bursts - shows much fewer 22+ bursts, and his top speed isn't that high either.

What I think it suggests is that he's a very effective and active skater who maybe doesn't get going that fast ultimately, but he's generally moving at above average speeds

 

[impaaaaaact]

There’s context to this that you’re missing. Speed is relevant because it’s something that the last two guys struggled with. Discussing his speed is more related to that. No one is expecting MacKinnon, Makar, Necas, or Burakovsky level skating. That’s absurd. He has good speed but probably just as importantly, he’s a north south skater. Good speed, north south, skillful finisher, and 6’4 on a team with others who are transitioning the puck and creating space is kind of where the picture comes together.

The one thing that I will add here is that he has always been best playing at his pace. Having a super fast/skilled transitioner has not been a boon in the past. He has always excelled being the one carrying/shooting the puck with guys that play around the same speed as him.

The one exception would be when Engvall was on his line last year, that worked for a bit. But mostly he’s done the most damage with Lee and Palmieri, and he was the transporter in those situations. He should probably be the engine of his line to get his full value

 

[CobraAcesS]

For sure, he’s not slow and his skating won’t hinder chances. When I see something that says 98th percentile burst speed my brain goes to “creating chances” and that’s not the kind of skater he is. He will always keep up with the play for sure

What I like about those stats is the simplicity. No I wouldn't base my entire opinion on them, but they're useful as a whole picture piece.

I watched more NY and Carolina games here in the last few weeks since the Mikko trade.

One guy where those stats really match is Boeser. He's at or below 50% in every metric there.

IMO almost no player outside of O'Reilly would fit on this team if they don't skate well, and have some reasonable distance skated metrics too.

If there is one thing you need to be able to do on this team it's skate a lot and at pace in our top six.

Mitts hit a wall and couldn't eat 2C minutes while keeping his details at a high level.

We have guys that burn out when moved up like LOC, who also has Mack level speed. They're fine for a few games but eventually disappear.

Nelson's skating distance at 96 percentile while also being in the top half of the speed metrics , and while averaging 19:21 then still being fairly productive is important at his age.

Mitts just couldn't do it, even if he had ok skating speed ratings.

Nelson may even play a little less than 19 minutes. Nuke plays like 17/18 and he gets time on the first power play. My guess is Nelson will get similar.

Mitts just wilted in our system with that ice time.

 

[Rehabguy]

This article pretty much describes Brock Nelson today. My hope is he wins you the Cup and gets his name engraved on it and resigns as an Islander over the summer so everyone’s happy. He’s got at least 3 Prime years in him left in my opinion then I think his game will decline. I hope he makes us proud and you guys happy.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

This article pretty much describes Brock Nelson today. My hope is he wins you the Cup and gets his name engraved on it and resigns as an Islander over the summer so everyone’s happy. He’s got at least 3 Prime years in him left in my opinion then I think his game will decline. I hope he makes us proud and you guys happy.

Appreciate the link and article friend!

If he wins the cup with us, I have a feeling the Avs would like to keep him around longer, but man... I would no have problems with him giving us a cup and then deciding he liked it better on the Island. Thanks for sharing him with us and if things turn out and you are looking for a Western conference bandwaggon team to follow... we're a bunch of f***ing assholes and probably not what you are looking for.

But if you give a chance... much like mold, we will grow on you. Good luck to you and the Isles.

 

[Avs_19]