Brock Nelson Traded to Avalanche from Islanders for Package Including 1st-Round Pick

The Colorado Avalanche are strengthening their roster for a big playoff push by acquiring Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders.

Colorado announced on Thursday night that it acquired Nelson and William Dufour from the Islanders for a package that includes a 2026 first-round draft pick, conditional 2028 third-round pick, Oliver Kylington and Calum Ritchie.

The Avs are clearly not messing around as they look to avoid a postseason disappointment for the third consecutive year.

After winning the Stanley Cup during the 2021-22 season, Colorado's continued success in the regular season hasn't translated into the playoffs. The team's hopes for a repeat ended with a first-round loss to the Seattle Kraken in 2023.

The Avalanche followed that up by losing to the Dallas Stars in the second round last year. They are one of only two teams in the Western Conference that has posted at least 100 points in the regular season in each of the previous three seasons, along with the Edmonton Oilers.

Colorado has a chance to extend that streak to four this season. It's sitting at 76 points with 19 games remaining.

Even if the Avalanche fall short of hitting triple-digit points again, they are in a good position to make the postseason for the eighth consecutive year. They enter Friday with an eight point lead over the Calgary Flames for the top wild card spot in the West.

Adding Nelson, who has 43 points in 61 games this season, for the stretch run further strengthens an already-good offense. He will also fill the void left in Colorado's lineup after Mikko Rantanen was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 24.

The Islanders have an outside shot at making the playoffs with 63 points, four behind the Ottawa Senators for the final wild card slot in the Eastern Conference. But they are 13th in the overall conference standings, so accruing draft assets to help their long-term future is the right move for an organization that's taken a step back after back-to-back playoff appearances in 2022-23 and 2023-24.