A shutout loss to Canada stymies Team USA’s gold medal hopes, sending the Notre Dame standout back to the collegiate ranks before his anticipated jump to the pros.
New York Islanders prospect Danny Nelson's 2026 IIHF World Championship came to a close on Thursday following a 4-0 shutout loss to Canada in the SemiFinals.
Nelson, who served as the fourth-line center and 13th forward -- 13 forwards and seven defenseman can be game-rostered per IIHF rules -- did play one game on the third line.
In their elimination loss to Canada, Nelson played alongside Washington Capitals' Ryan Leonard and Pittsburgh Penguins' Tommy Novak on USA's third line.
Nelson recorded just one point through seven games played, an assist off an offensive face-off draw win on a Matthew Tkachuk power-play goal in a 4-2 loss to Latvia.
Nelson did not play in the following game, serving as a healthy scratch in their 7-3 win over Hungary before returning in the elimination round.
The 20-year-old former second-round pick (No. 49) in the 2023 NHL Draft is returning to Notre Dame for his senior season at the University of Notre Dame, where he'll play with his older brother, Henry Nelson, and his younger brother and incoming freshman, Sammy.
Henry Nelson was invited to the Islanders Development Camp, as you'll see, he and Danny take the ice together in blue and orange. The older brother was invited to the Islanders Development camp last summer, but an injury prevented him from attending.
Danny Nelson has yet to sign his entry-level deal. Still, from my understanding, there's zero reason to be concerned about whether he'll put pen to paper on his rookie deal come the conclusion of the collegiate 2026-27 season.