The Colorado Avalanche’s quest for the Stanley Cup was a short-lived one, as the team was eliminated by the Dallas Stars in Game 7 of their First Round Series on Saturday. With the loss, former New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson will not have his name etched on hockey’s greatest prize. 

Nelson was dealt to Colorado alongside William Dufour in March, with forward prospect Calum Ritchie, defenseman Oliver Kylington (later flipped to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations), a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2028 third. With Colorado pushing for a second championship in four seasons, Nelson was most likely a rental for the Avalanche, who paid a hefty price to get him. 

Nelson played the final 19 games of the regular season for Colorado, notching six goals and seven assists for 13 points over that stretch. However, the Stars kept him quiet in their series, limiting him to a mere four assists and no points in four of the seven games. 

His first point of the playoffs was a special one as he set up Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog for his first goal in almost three years after battling back from a long-term injury:

Former Islanders Forward Brock Nelson Assists On Gabriel Landeskog’s First Goal Since Injury Comeback <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/kyle-palmieris-production-with-without-brock-nelson-key-impact-on-islanders-offense" target="_blank">Brock Nelson's</a> first playoff point with the Colorado Avalanche was a memorable one!

Nelson didn't stand out for Colorado, but in Game 7, he was entrusted late with two key face-offs, winning both (44.1 FO% in the playoffs) before finding open ice as a one-time option to hopefully tie the game. 

That didn't happen. 

Now, with the Avalanche’s season over, Nelson, 33, sits on the verge of testing free agency for the first time in his career. The Islanders prevented Nelson from hitting the open market in 2019, signing him to a six-year, $36 million contract that ran until this season. 

While all that was happening, Ritchie recorded three points (one goal, two assists) in the final six games of the Oshawa General's regular season. 

He is battling fellow Islanders prospect Jesse Nurmi and the London Knights in the OHL Championships, entering the finals with 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 16 playoff games. 

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Matthew Page contributed to this story.