For the last two seasons, Brock Nelson has put the New York Islanders on his back, and he's approaching his fair share of milestones in 2023-24.
For the last two seasons, Brock Nelson has put the New York Islanders on his back, and he's approaching his fair share of milestones in 2023-24.
For the last two seasons, Brock Nelson has put the New York Islanders on his back.
After a 37-goal campaign in 2021-22, the 31-year-old centerman potted 36 goals this past season, earning himself his first All-Star bid and winning the accuracy shooting contest down in South Beach during the skills competition.
Although Nelson made his NHL debut during the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, his career didn't take off until Barry Trotz was named head coach of the club ahead of the 2018-19 season.
Trotz instilled a newfound sense of confidence in the sniping center, and from then on, he has become one of the most underrated players in the NHL.
With how well Nelson played alongside Pierre Engvall and Kyle Palmieri, there's a strong chance that the Minnesota native gets even close to the 40-goal mark, as that line is coming back for a sequel.
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No. 29 has some milestones within reach in 2023-24, so let's discuss.
With no serious injuries throughout his 10-year career, Nelson sits just 42 games shy of joining the 800-game club (758).
Nelson sits eighth-most all-time in games played for the Islanders, chasing his pal Matt Martin (766).
There's no sign that Nelson will suddenly forget how to score, and given his elite finishing the past two seasons, he should soar past the 500-point milestone.
Fresh off a career-high in the points department, with 75, Nelson sits just 38 points away from 500 for his career.
Although not a stat that most people care about, but Nelson sits 10 face-off wins away from 4,000 for his career, owning a career 47.6 percent success rate.
It's not about how many you win. It's about when you win them, right?
After a career-high eight game-winning goals in 2022-23, he sits just one shy of 40 for his career. That next one will also tie him with the late Clark Gillies, who retired with 41, for fifth all-time in franchise history. He could also tie John Tavares, who sits in fourth with 42. And it's also very possible he surpasses Denis Potvin, who sits fourth all-time with 44.
It will take another couple of years for Nelson to reach second-most all-time as he's got a ways to go to catch Bryan Trottier (69).
The late Mike Bossy sits with 80 to lead the franchise.
Two other milestones that are in reach, but might be too tough, are the 500-block and 600-hit marks.
Nelson sits with 451 blocks after back-to-back 43-block seasons, so he would need 49 to reach that milestone.
After a 50-hit season, Nelson sits 51 hits shy of 600.
The Islanders may have taken some of the goal-scoring pressure off Nelson with the acquisition of Bo Horvat and the meshing of his line in the second half of 2022-23 after the Pierre Engvall Trade.
But it wouldn't be shocking to see Nelson lead the team in goals for the third time in the last four seasons, with Bo Horvat ending his streak this past season due to a hot first half with Vancouver.
Ironically enough, Brocktober, as he's nicknamed, had the worst October of his career in 2022, scoring just three goals in nine games.
Nelson is heading into this season hoping to bring the Brocktober magic back.
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