Reporter Links Veteran Brock Nelson to the Toronto Maple Leafs

PUBLICATION

Chris Gerics
October 31, 2024 (11:10)

SHARE THIS STORY

The Toronto Maple Leafs could use a lot of help down the middle and one name that can help according to NHL Insider James Mirtle is the Islanders' Brock Nelson.

The Toronto Maple Leafs desperately need help down the middle, as the Max Domi experiment has failed and the William Nylander switch to center proved fruitless. David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok aren't the answers and having a solid 3C would be crucial for a long playoff run for Toronto.

The New York Islanders aren't having the best season and have been middling in the Metropolitan Division the last few years since going to the Conference Finals in 2019-2020. GM Lou Lamoriello might start cleaning house if things don't pick up, and Toronto could use a key piece of their lineup according to NHL Insider James Mirtle: Brock Nelson.

Speaking on the JD Bunkis Podcast, Mirtle touched on who he believes the Toronto Maple Leafs could add down the middle and a name that kept coming back to him was Brock Nelson.

"The one name, and like it's a long way to go to the trade deadline in March but the one name I saw who's potentially out there is Brock Nelson. He would be the perfect size, can score, he's not a shutdown center but he's not going to kill you in your own end either. The Islanders would need to fall out and want to move off of him, and he would be expensive to get a player like that.

They don't have a first-round to give up, they need to give up a future first-rounder, you have to give up something substantial to make it happen. If you could bring in a center like that and get the other team to retain half the salary so it fits in comfortably, you start putting together the lines and you're like 'Now there's something.'"

Nelson, a pending UFA after this season, has been fantastic for the Islanders, especially in the last three seasons where he put together 107 goals and 203 points in 236 games. Drafted 30th overall in 2010, he's a veteran of 12 years and has been a staple of the Islanders lineup for over a decade. While not the elite shutdown defensive center Toronto covets, Nelson would be a massive improvement over Max Domi and anyone else and would provide a killer anchor in between Domi and Nylander on a stacked third line.

He fits the Maple Leafs MO for size too, at 6'4, 210 pounds, and another intimidating presence that Brad Treliving is so enamored with. He's also very good on the faceoff, and while he doesn't steal the puck a lot, he doesn't give it away either. In terms of playoffs, Nelson has 50 points in 78 games, and given Toronto's need for playoff scoring depth; it's a perfect fit.

It's gonna cost a lot, and it'll be tough for New York to part with their alternate captain and franchise mainstay. But if times get tough in Long Island, Lou Lamoriello will have no issues making a change and Nelson could be the start of it.