The 2024 NHL Trade Deadline is fast approaching. New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson has value, but trading the team's leading scorer has a trickling-down effect.

Out of all the players on the New York Islanders that could be moved ahead of the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline on March 8,  forward Brock Nelson provides the most value.

On the books for one more season with a $6 million cap hit, the 32-year-old center is on pace to score 35 or more goals for a third straight season. His team-leading 25 goals have him sitting tied for the eighth most goals amongst centermen.

With New York trending toward missing the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, a Nelson trade could bring back a combination of first-round picks and top prospects, assets the organization is lacking.

It sounds good on paper, but in reality, trading Nelson makes zero sense unless more trades come after.

That’s because Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello and head coach Patrick Roy want to win now.

Any picks and/or prospects that come back the other way aren’t helping the Islanders do that unless they are flipped to bring in players that can help the group now AND in the future.

If Nelson goes — despite Brock lining up as the top left winger against the Dallas Stars — the Islanders would need to bring in a centerman unless they believe Kyle MacLean is the real deal and that Jean-Gabriel Pageau is a No. 2 offensive center in this league after being groomed as a defensive shutdown center since arriving in 2020.

Nelson is the Islanders' top scorer on a team that already is top-heavy. Given the struggles defensively, losing the person who has consistently led this team in goals won’t help the Islanders' chances of winning.

It’s a move that would signify the start of something much bigger, starting with kicking the can on this season.

It would likely lead to the Islanders trading the likes of Kyle Palmieri and Pageau, but it’s not a realistic approach, given that the reason to move those players would be to increase draft capital and create cap space.

The Islanders would not be bringing back players that could just slot into those vacant roles, and sure, the Islanders could recall William Dufour and give Ruslan Iskhakov and Matthew Maggio a chance.

But the Islanders, even if they move on from players that are under contract, have too many players locked up long-term to blow this thing up.

Playing general manager doesn’t take into consideration the emotions of the deals, and that’s a monumental part of sports.

What’s the mindset of top-line players Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat, who are both in the first of eight-year deals, which they signed because they want to win?

What’s the mindset of Noah Dobson, who the Islanders are going to want to lock up long-term following the 2024-25 season?

What’s the mindset of elite goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who starts his eight-year deal next season?

That's not a country club mindset, caring about the emotions. It's the reality of the situation. 

Trading a player like Pageau and retooling is one thing.

Trading a player like Nelson goes beyond retooling because it creates way more questions than answers.

If this was a team like the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, or Chicago Blackhawks, then, of course, you move on from top players if you aren’t trying to win.

But regardless of the Islanders' struggles, winning is on their mind.

The Islanders, no question, are getting calls about Nelson. He’s a top player in this sport.

With Mark Stone out with a ruptured spleen, it makes all the sense with newfound cap space for the Vegas Golden Knights to bring Nelson in.

The Minnesota Wild, Nelson’s hometown team, are a few points out of a wild-card spot and should be calling Lamoriello.

But, unless Nelson, who has a 16-team no-trade clause, wants to move him and his family and the Islanders are getting back a substantial return that can help the team win now and in the future, No. 29 is staying put.

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