Seven months ago, Brock Nelson had to say goodbye to the only NHL home he knew.
It was a unique moment. Nelson was named the first star in what would be his final home game in a New York Islanders uniform, and everyone at UBS Arena knew it. The raw emotion, the cracks in his voice as 12 years and more than 900 games with one organization came to an end, was a special moment during his interview with MSG’s Shannon Hogan.
So when Nelson says the transition to playing for the Colorado Avalanche five days later was tough, that interview on the bench at UBS is a reminder that it was genuine.
“I think a lot of it is just outside with the family, outside of the game,” Nelson said. “I think it kind of bleeds into your performance on the ice, just in terms of feeling settled, peace of mind, all that. Getting traded, and being 3-4 weeks where you might not see your kids for a bit was definitely tough. It was some long days, where you are just out here by yourself.”
Once the season ended, even after it did so abruptly in Game 7 against the Dallas Stars, Nelson had time to reflect on where he’s been and where he wanted to be. Going to his boyhood home in Minnesota had long been a rumor. The Winnipeg Jets had reportedly been keen to add his services.
But Nelson and his family decided they had already found their new home. He signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract nearly a month before he could have reached the free-agent market. Nelson, who turns 34 years old later this month, was ready to run it back with the Avs.
If training camp is an indication of what’s to come, Nelson appears to be over the transition period.
“He looks phenomenal. He just looks fast,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “Like the speed of the game, he’s a step ahead of everyone. Looks really comfortable. I think he’s excited to be back. I think physically, he’s in a really good spot. I’m expecting him to have a really good year.”
Nelson had a good year in 2024-25, finishing with 26 goals and 56 points. His numbers were solid after the trade (six goals, 13 points in 19 games). He did not score a goal against Dallas, but Nelson had four assists and had a strong finish to the series, particularly after captain Gabe Landeskog joined his line.
His coach isn’t the only one who has noticed Nelson’s form during camp.
“I knew he was really good,” new Avs defenseman Brent Burns said. “But to see him every day, it’s like, ‘Wow. He’s like really, really good at everything.’ Other than how old he looks.”
What’s a really good year look like with the high-powered Avs? It looks like he’ll get a chance to play on the top power-play unit to start the year. He’s going to be part of the penalty kill, just like he was on Long Island. He’s going to have two excellent wings on his line.
“I think Brock Nelson is one of the most underrated players in the league,” NHL Network analyst Brian Boyle said. “I hated playing against him. He’s long. He can skate well. He’s strong. He’s smart. If you’re beating him on faceoffs, he’s going to try something different to get you off your game. That’s the competitive part of him.
“A face you want to punch sometimes, but if he’s on your team, everybody loves him. I think he’s going to have a monster year there. I think it’s a huge, huge pickup for Colorado.”
Nelson averaged 35.7 goals and 67.7 points the previous three years with the Islanders. If he approaches those numbers with the Avs, Colorado’s offense might be terrifying.
“We were able to kind of move out here early August, get the kids into school and kind of get a new routine,” Nelson said. “To have them around, just kind of living their life — it’s the new normal. It’s still an adjustment and change, but to get acclimated, that could definitely help.
“For me, I think it just helps just having the family taken care of. They’re there. You’re with them all the time. I think that it changes things a little bit for me.”
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