Rumor: Wild linked to consistent 30+ goal scorer from Minnesota
Will Billy Guerin pull the trigger? NHL insider Chris Johnston with the inside scoop.
I hate to break it to ya, New York Islanders fans... but the Isles aren't making the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.
They're currently five points out of the final Wild Card position and 10 points back of a secured position in the NHL's Atlantic Division. In other words, they're cooked.
With the NHL's trade deadline just over over two months away there's now plenty of speculation about who Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello will trade ahead of deadline day. The Islanders' only two significant players on expiring contracts are Kyle Palmieri and Brock Nelson and NHL insiders Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun think that both veteran forwards will be in play on the trade market.
In particular, Johnston reports that he believes Nelson, a Minnesota native, could end up as a member of the Minnesota Wild before deadline day is over.
"It’s likely that the Wild plan to target Nelson," said The Athletic's Michael Russo earlier this month. "(He) is somebody who can play up and down the lineup, at wing or center, kill penalties, win draws and play on the power play."
As for the cost, Russo reports that Wild GM Bill Guerrin will likely have to part with a 1st round pick to acquire Nelson.
"(The Wild will) have to trade a future first-rounder or get creative with a top prospect and second-round pick," Russo wrote.
The 33 year old Nelson has 10 goals and 21 points in 37 games for the Islanders this year. He managed 34 goals and 69 points last season.
