Why new Islanders should offer Brock Nelson a contract extension

Every week that goes is another week to assess where New York IslanderS is in the Eastern Conference Playoff -Image and Guess, not assess what GM Lou Lamoriello are likely to do so at the trade deadline with pending UFA fronts Brock Nelson.

We do not know if Nelson is more likely to be held or acted, but it is clear that this for Lamoriello is not a straightforward decision. While many fans see the election as obviously moving Nelson, which would be one of the most sought after trading goals, Lamoriello has shown a tendency to want to keep his veteran’s cornerstones even if they are getting older and their performance becomes less predictable.

It may not have much to do with the team’s playoff-probe and more with how Lamoriello looks at makeup of the guard plan and the potential of the franchise in the next 2-3 seasons. While many fans see mediocrity, Lamoriello could see a team not too far away, with the ability to add pieces in free agency and through trades with an expanding pay ceiling in the coming years.

Appear on “Morning cuppa hockey,“Beat Reporter Arthur Staple of The athletic Indicated that when he calls around the league and asks which team leaders have heard of Nelson’s accessibility, the message from Lamoriello has been “I will sign Brock Nelson, I am not interested in what you offer,” paraphrased during interview.

If you gave Islanders’ fans three choices: 1) Trade Nelson, 2) Mister Nelson for Nothing, or 3) Sign him to an extension before the deadline most would agree, even those who want option 1, this option 3 is Far better than the worst case of letting walk to Minnesota or another team for nothing.

For that reason, in the coming month, whose sales have not become the obvious best option for Lamoriello, he should provide a contract extension offer to Nelson and put Onus on the player to reject it. If Nelson is willing to take a 2-3 three-year extension to stay on Long Island on his current AAV, the islanders should find it now and not wait until the summer. If he rejects the offer, it is a signal that he intends to test the free agency market during the summer, and the risk is simply too great for the islanders to wait and see how it would play out.

Make the offer, find out where Nelson stands and if you can’t accept an appointment, the decision to trade him should be shoi wool an obvious, even for Lamoriello.