The New Jersey Devils were linked to multiple players leading up to the 2025 NHL trade deadline. One of them was forward Brock Nelson before the New York Islanders traded him to the Colorado Avalanche.
However, the Devils could have the opportunity to pursue Nelson again this summer, as the 33-year-old forward will become an unrestricted free agent if the Avalanche do not re-sign him by July 1. If he does hit the market, he is a player the Devils should consider making a push for.
Due to his versatility, Nelson could help the Devils in multiple different ways. If he played down the middle for the Devils, he would be a significant upgrade to their third-line center spot. However, he also can play on the wing, so he could slot nicely in the Devils' top six, too. Furthermore, due to his offensive ability, he would also give the Devils another valuable weapon for their power play.
No matter Nelson's role, the Devils' lineup would get better by bringing in the veteran. He is still an impactful offensive player at this stage of his career, and the truth is in his stats.
In 80 games this season split between the Islanders and Avalanche, he posted 26 goals, 56 points, and a plus-8 rating. Furthermore, from 2022-23 to 2023-24, he scored at least 34 goals, so he undoubtedly would have the potential to give the Devils more secondary scoring if signed.
On a short-term deal, Nelson could be a strong addition to a Devils club looking to take another step forward. It will be intriguing to see if they end up targeting this off-season from here.
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