NHL Free Agency Rumors: UFA Brock Nelson 'Intrigued' By Home State Wild

A report says that UFA "Brock Nelson would be intrigued by playing at home" for the Minnesota Wild

Brock Nelson is a Minnesota kid. Born in Warroad, MN, the unrestricted free agent can choose his next playing destination in the NHL, and it sounds like he's "intrigued" about going 'home.'

As noted by insider Joe Smith in The Athletic, Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin "made it clear at his exit interview session that his top priority in free agency/trades is improving at center." Nelson is the ideal No. 2 center, exactly what the Wild are looking for in support of Joel Eriksson Ek on the top line.

Pending UFA Brock Nelson is 'intrigued' about playing for his home state Minnesota Wild

Fellow insider Michael Russo added in the same article that there seems to be mutual interest in bringing Nelson 'home':

Agent Ben Hankinson (made it clear to me) on KFAN last week... (that) Nelson would be intrigued by playing at home and he could see a fit.

Of course, the Colorado Avalanche, the team that acquired Nelson from the New York Islanders at the trade deadline, have the first shot at signing him, in advance of July 1, but it's unknown what their plans are.

Smith posits that any potential of the Wild signing Nelson should hinge on how much term he's looking for. He turns 34 right at the start of next season.

Nelson had an up-and-down short tenure in Colorado, recording six goals and 13 points in 19 games with the Avs, giving him 26 goals and 56 points on the season. He had 30+ goals in each of the prior three campaigns with the Islanders.

Overall, in 12 NHL seasons, Nelson has totaled 301 goals and 587 points in 920 games.