Islanders trade Nelson to Avalanche for Ritchie, 1st-rounder

The New York Islanders traded center Brock Nelson and minor leaguer William Dufour to the Colorado Avalanche for prospect Calum Ritchie, defenseman Oliver Kylington, a conditional 2026 first-round pick, and a conditional 2028 third-rounder, the teams announced Thursday.

The Islanders will receive the Avalanche's 2026 first-round selection unless one of two scenarios occur. The first scenario is Colorado's 2025 first-round pick falling in the top 10, in which case the Avs would send the Philadelphia Flyers their 2026 first-rounder as part of last year's Sean Walker trade. The second is Colorado's 2026 first-rounder landing in the top 10. In either scenario, the Islanders would receive a 2027 first-round pick instead.

New York will only receive the 2028 third-rounder if the Avalanche win the 2025 Stanley Cup and Nelson plays in 50% or more of Colorado's playoff games.

Nelson is a pending unrestricted free agent carrying a $6-million cap hit. The Islanders are retaining 50% of his contract.

The 33-year-old was one of the most coveted players available on the trade market. He's tallied 20 goals and 23 assists in 61 games this season.

Nelson, who represented Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, plays a heavy game at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds. He has scored at least 34 goals in each of the past three seasons, topping out at 37 in 2021-22.

He's been productive in the playoffs too, recording 27 goals and 23 assists in 78 contests.

Nelson gives the Avalanche enviable depth down the middle of the ice along with Nathan MacKinnon, Casey Mittelstadt, and Jack Drury.

The Avalanche drafted Ritchie 27th overall in 2023. The 6-foot-3 center made seven NHL appearances this season before he was sent back to junior, where the 20-year-old has racked up 67 points in 41 games with the OHL's Oshawa Generals. He immediately becomes one of New York's top two prospects, along with 2024 first-rounder Cole Eiserman.

Immediately following the trade, the Islanders flipped Kylington to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations. The 27-year-old defenseman has registered four points in 13 games this season.

Dufour, 23, has managed eight goals and 10 assists in 45 AHL contests this season. The Islanders drafted the 6-foot-3 winger in the fifth round in 2020.