The 33-year-old pending unrestricted free agent is the top name on trade boards.

On Thursday night, New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson will suit up for Team USA at the NHL's 4 Nations Face-off against Team Finland. 

What this means is that the 33-year-old pending unrestricted free agent will hit the ice with his future on Long Island still unknown.

That might not be a problem for Nelson, who doesn't have much to prove given his goal-scoring track record. 

Being the top name on trade lists, Nelson's future should be only full of positives. 

Either the Islanders pay him and provide him with security for the rest of his career, or he gets dealt to a Stanley Cup contender and gets paid by them in the offseason or sign a deal in free agency to secure the bag.

All the risk is in the Islanders' corner. 

We didn't know how this best-on-best tournament would go, and while the first game between Team Canada and Team Sweden wasn't overly physical, we already saw an injury. 

Canadiens defenseman Shea Theodore left the game in the first period and has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament:

With how contagious the injury bug has been on Long Island this season, there have to be some uneasy feelings seeing Nelson playing in a jersey other than the Islanders with their playoff hopes still alive.

Not to mention, Nelson is going to be playing a bottom-line role which includes shifts on USA's second penalty-kill unit. 

If Nelson were to get injured--knock on wood--that would be catastrophic. Depending on the timetable, given how close the tournament is to the March 7 NHL Trade Deadline, there's a risk that the Islanders could lose out on trading the NHL's most sought-after forward if that's the route they ultimately choose. 

On the other hand, if Nelson doesn't get hurt and shines at the tournament, who knows if an extra few teams will come calling?

If it were up to the Islanders—and I think they're trying to, according to sources—Nelson would be locked into an extension by now. 

But it's understandable why Nelson's camp would be interested in seeing how the team performs after this break and what the near future could look like if Lamoriello can land a big fish before then. 

Risky business. 

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