Avalanche acquire Brock Nelson from Islanders in deal involving top prospect Cal Ritchie
The Colorado Avalanche made a big splash on Thursday evening, acquiring Brock Nelson and William Dufour from the New York Islanders for prospect Cal Ritchie, defenseman Oliver Kylington, a first-round pick in either 2026 or 2027 and a 2028 third-rounder.
The New York Islanders have acquired forward Calum Ritchie, a first-round selection in the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft, a conditional third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft, and defenseman Oliver Kylington from the Colorado Avalanche, in exchange for Brock Nelson and William Dufour.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 7, 2025In a separate deal, Kylington was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations.
Nelson was one of the top trade targets heading into the deadline. The 6-foot-4 center is on pace for just under 60 points, and had 34 goals and 69 points a year ago. Nelson has played some of his best hockey in his 30s and hasn’t missed a game since the 2021-22 season.
Nelson was drafted 30th overall by the Islanders in 2010 and has spent his entire pro career with the club. He made his debut during the 2013 playoffs and became a full-time NHLer in 2013-14, registering 26 points. His first 50-point season game was in 2018-19 when he registered 53. He set a personal best of 75 in 2022-23.
The 33-year-old has plenty of experience internationally as well. He has 19 goals and 35 points in 40 games over five World Championship appearances, which is good for third in all-time among any American player. He recently represented the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off, but didn’t record a point in four games as USA lost the gold medal game to Canada.
Nelson is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer after completing a six-year contract worth $6 million per season. The Islanders are retaining 50 percent of Nelson’s deal.
Dufour, 23, was drafted 152nd overall in 2020 by the Islanders. He has played just one NHL game to date, but did have a career-best 21 goals and 48 points in his first pro hockey season back in 2022-23. Since then, though, he has seen his game regress in Bridgeport, but a change of scenery could help him get his production back on track.
Ritchie is on pace for 78 points in just 48 games, which is impressive given the lack of total contests. He started the year in the NHL with the Avs, and it seemed like training and playing with quality players helped boost his game in a way we hadn’t seen before. Ritchie has done a better job at making quick decisions with the puck, and he’s got a great shot release, too. The Oakville, Ontario native does so much to generate offense for the Generals, and his two-way game only continues to improve. Look for Ritchie to challenge for a full-time NHL roster spot next year.
Kylington, 27, was in his first season with Colorado after not re-signing with the Calgary Flames last summer. The Swedish defender had four points in 13 games with the Avalanche, which even included a short stint as a forward. Kylington has 18 goals and 59 points in 214 games over his career.
Get ready, hockey fans! The Daily Faceoff Deadline is happening on March 7th from 11 AM to 4 PM Eastern, and you won’t want to miss it. We’ll be LIVE, breaking down every trade and big move as it happens, with instant reactions and expert analysis from the Daily Faceoff crew. Plus, we’ve got special guests lined up throughout the show, offering exclusive insights from some of the biggest names in the game. From blockbuster trades to surprise moves, we’re covering it all. Tune in to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and follow Daily Faceoff socials on March 7th to catch all the action!