Contract Extension for Brock Nelson
The Colorado Avalanche have officially extended Brock Nelson’s contract for an additional three years, at an annual average value of $7.5 million, as announced by the organization on Wednesday. Nelson, who is now 33 years old, has spent the majority of his professional career with the New York Islanders, where he played for a dozen seasons before being traded to Colorado just before the previous season’s trade deadline.
In return for Nelson, the Islanders received promising prospect Calum Ritchie, along with a 2026 first-round draft pick and a 2028 third-round draft pick.
Performance Overview
This new deal ensures that Nelson will remain with the Avalanche until the conclusion of the 2027-28 season. Having been a pending unrestricted free agent, he was ranked 10th on Chris Johnston’s list of top free agents. Following the trade, Nelson made 19 regular-season appearances with the Avalanche, contributing six goals and seven assists to the team’s efforts. During the subsequent playoffs against the Dallas Stars, he did not find the back of the net over seven games but recorded four assists as he primarily served as the second-line center.
Hailing from Warroad, Minnesota, Nelson is known for his consistent scoring ability, regularly netting between 20 to 30 goals each season. Last season, he scored 26 goals, continuing a trend established over his previous three campaigns with the Islanders where he recorded at least 30 goals each time. Throughout his 11 full seasons in the NHL, he has achieved the 20-goal mark in nine of those campaigns. In 2023, he earned a spot in the NHL All-Star Game and also represented Team USA in the recent 4 Nations Face-off tournament.
Statements from Management
Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland expressed confidence in Nelson’s abilities, stating, “He’s been a great center in this league for a long time, and he brings professionalism and a dedicated work ethic on and off the ice. We think he will be a great fit and will be a stabilizing presence to our second-line center role with his size and ability to touch all areas of the ice. We’re excited to see what his contributions will be over a larger sample size with the Avalanche.”
With this contract, Nelson is now the second-highest-paid forward in the Avalanche organization and the third overall, following Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. He is anticipated to bolster the team’s depth at the center position behind MacKinnon, and he was also utilized on the second power-play unit during his short stint with Colorado last season.
Nelson’s Thoughts on the Future
In his own words, Nelson shared his enthusiasm about continuing his journey in Colorado: “My family and I are excited to be staying in Colorado. Having spent my entire career with one organization, we weren’t totally sure what to expect when we arrived in Denver. But getting the opportunity to play for the Avalanche, to compete with a great group of teammates in that locker room, and in front of the tremendous fans at Ball Arena, we knew this was where we wanted to stay. I’d like to thank the Kroenke family, Joe Sakic, Chris MacFarland, Jared Bednar and our coaching staff for the opportunity. Obviously, the way the season ended last year was disappointing, but I can’t wait to get back on the ice soon and continue to push for our goal of winning the Stanley Cup.”
