Brock Nelson makes sense for the Wild, but does the likely return make sense for the Islanders?
The New York Islanders will receive many trade calls regarding their pending unrestricted free-agent forward, Brock Nelson, who is in the final season of a six-year deal worth $6 million annually.
Despite Nelson having a 16-team no-trade clause, general manager Lou Lamoriello will have leverage.
There's rumors about Nelson returning home to play for the Minnesota Wild, who are second in the Central Division.
But do they make sense as a trade partner?
We know that Wild general manager Bill Guerin is fond of Nelson, as he chose him to represent Team USA at the NHL's upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off.
Financially, the Wild have $330,889 in available cap space right now, so to be cap compliant, Minnesota would need to clear $5.67 million.
If the Islander retained 50 percent on Nelson's deal ($3M), then that number changes to $2.67 million, a much more feasible number.
Marcus Johansson ($2M) could be included in any trade package to offset most of the cost.
However, if the Islanders are retaining salary, that increases Nelson's value.
The question is, what are the Islanders looking for?
Nelson is worth a first-round pick at the very least, but the Minnesota Wild do not have one in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft.
They sent their 2025 first in a package for Columbus Blue Jackets young defenseman David Jiricek on Nov. 30. The pick was top-five protected, but the Wild aren't going to be getting a top-five pick.
The Islanders own their 2025 first-round pick, which could be a lottery pick if they continue struggling and the ping-ping balls bounce correctly.
Maybe the Islanders could flip a 2026 first-round pick in an Alexander Romanov-type deal.
On top of the pick, are there any Minnesota players who the Islanders would want in return?
Defenseman Zeev Buium, the Wild's 19-year-old blueline prospect, who they drafted 12th overall in 2024, is likely untouchable after a dominant World Junior Championship on top of outstanding play at the University of Denver.
Lamoriello should still ask.
What about center Marco Rossi?
The 23-year-old has 37 points in 41 games, with 15 goals and 22 assists.
Rossi is in the final season of a three-year entry-level contract worth $863,334 annually. The ninth overall pick in 2022 will be a restricted free agent with no arbitration rights. His qualifying offer is worth $874,125.
Given his ceiling, the Wild would likely sign Rossi to a long-term deal rather than a bridge deal like they did with Kirill Kaprizov.
Would they be willing to trade Rossi for a 33-year-old centerman, and does Nelson make their team astronomically better?
Rossi is the Wild's top centerman and second point-getter behind team point-leader Kaprizov, who is out injured with a lower-body injury. It's just not a player Guerin is likely to move.
The Islanders would likely have to trade Nelson and a pick to get Guerin to even consider.
Outside of Buium, the Wild do have a few intriguing prospects.
Russian forward Marat Khusnutdinov (2020, No. 37) -- we know how much the Islanders like their Russians-- has struggled at the NHL level in his young career. The 22-year-old speedy, two-way forward has eight points (two goals, six assists) through his first 54 career games.
Fellow Russian forward Danila Yurov (2022, No. 24) broke Vladimir Tarasenko's KHL points record for a player 21 or under when he recorded 49 points (21 goals, 28 assists) in 62 games last season.
He's playing a significant role in the KHL, and the Wild have stated that they don't mind him staying over there while he develops.
A deal with the Wild could work if the Islanders could get a 2026 first-round pick and a top prospect outside of Buium.
However, the Islanders are likely to find a better trade partner elsewhere.
They have the leverage, as they hold one of, if not the top, "available" players if Nelson is indeed available before the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline.