NHL Rumors: Brock Nelson Turned Down Trade To Canadian Team

Brock Nelson wouldn't waive no-move to go to Winnipeg Jets

Brock Nelson is a pending unrestricted free agent, which led to the New York Islanders trading him at the deadline to the Colorado Avalanche. But per Marco D'Amico of rg.org, the Isles first had a deal in place with the Winnipeg Jets, until Nelson put the kibosh on that, declining to waive his no-trade clause to go to the Manitoba city. Winnipeg was one of 16 teams on his list.

The exact return that the Jets were prepared to send to the Islanders is unknown, but D'Amico speculates that because then-GM Lou Lamoriello wanted a top prospect back, it could have been one of Brad Lambert, Colby Barlow, or Brayden Yager that the Jets would have had to include.

The Islanders wound up receiving a 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 conditional third-round pick, top Colorado prospect Calum Ritchie, and defenseman Oliver Kylington from the Avs in exchange for Nelson.

Brock Nelson turned down a trade to the Winnipeg Jets at the deadline

Nelson turned down the trade to Winnipeg despite growing up just two hours down the road (though across the border) in Warroad, Minnesota. The closest NHL franchise to his hometown is actually the Jets, not the Minnesota Wild. Nelson, however, wouldn't have had a chance to get any attachment to the Jets, as he would have been 20 and already at the University of North Dakota by the time the Winnipeg franchise came back into being.

Nelson will be one of the top scoring forwards on the free agent market if the Avs let him get to July 1. He recorded 26 goals and 56 points this year, split between NYI and Colorado. Prior to this season, he had three straight years of 30+ goals.

The Wild did not make an attempt to trade for the 34-year-old Nelson at the deadline, reports D'Amico, but they are a potential suitor, he says, this summer.