Brock Nelson anticipates a ‘strange’ experience as he plays against his old team for the first time.

Nelson Adjusts to New Team After Trade

COMMERCE, Colo. — It’s been eight months since Brock Nelson signed with the Avalanche, and he’s still grappling with the trade that moved him from Long Island to Colorado.

After practice on Saturday, Nelson opted not to extend his contract. He mentioned that facing the Islanders, the team he played for over a decade before being traded last March, “is part of that process.”

“It’s strange,” Nelson reflected. “It took a while, for sure. I still keep tabs on everyone. … Adjusting was tough. I didn’t sleepwalk through warmups, but it definitely took time to familiarize myself with everything, from the staff to the players and the whole setup.”

Nelson’s tenure with the Islanders was impressive—he played 901 games and scored 295 goals, both of which rank fifth in franchise history. Trade rumors surrounded him right up until last season’s deadline.

General Manager Lou Lamoriello had openly desired to renew Nelson’s contract, but when negotiations stalled, he opted for a trade to the Avalanche, which involved top prospect Cal Ritchie and a 2026 first-round draft pick.

Ritchie, who was highly regarded at the time, is now set to play for the Islanders when they meet the Avalanche on Sunday.

This game will be a first for Nelson—he’ll see the Islanders logo on the other bench.

“In the end, I had a lot of honest discussions with Lou. He was genuinely good to me throughout that whole situation,” Nelson stated. “It’s never simple. You can’t just dwell on what has happened or how things might’ve been different.”

Nelson had invited several former teammates to dinner on Saturday, and many, including Casey Cizikas, Anders Lee, Kyle Palmieri, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Bo Horvat, showed up.

“Facing them is going to feel different,” he admitted. “I’ve been part of their routines for over ten years; they know mine too. It will feel odd standing on the opposite side.”

“I think it’s nice that we’re here first before heading back there.” He added, “That place has its own vibe, but we look forward to everyone joining us, taking shots, and hanging out.”