Second Report Connects Maple Leafs to Center Brock Nelson
TSN's Mike Johnson revealed that the Maple Leafs may pull off a trade with Lou Lamoriello and the New York Islanders for pending free agent Brock Nelson.
With Auston Matthews expected to return from his mysterious injury, the Leafs will still be without David Kampf, who is dealing with a lower-body injury and Max Domi who is also on injured reserve.
Those injuries have significantly diminished the Leafs' depth at center and although Fraser Minten looked good in his first game of the season and Pontus Holmberg, Connor Dewar, and Steven Lorentz can play in the middle, having another option that is a natural center to bolster their middle six would certainly help them balance their lineup.
Along with Domi, Kampf and Matthews, the Leafs are also without Calle Jarnkrok, Max Pacioretty and Ryan Reaves up front, meaning their forward depth throughout the organization is being put to the test.
Making a trade this far out from the trade deadline isn't ideal cost-wise, but the Leafs and GM Brad Treliving may have to pull the trigger on a move sooner than later depending on the recovery of those battling injury.
One player the Leafs have been rumoured to be considering a prime target is Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders, according to TSN's Mike Johnson. This is not the first time the Leafs have been linked to the versatile center, as his name was previously mentioned by The Athletic's James Mirtle as a viable option for GM Brad Treliving.
Nelson is in the final year of his deal and has a $6M cap hit so the Leafs would have to have the Islanders retain some of his salary, but the 33-year-old checks every box for the Leafs. He's a big body at 6'4 and over 200 pounds and can contribute offensively, averaging 35 goals over the last three seasons.
Additionally, Nelson can play in all situations and is responsible on the defensive side of the puck. Given the fact that the Leafs would need some retention on his salary, and that Nelson is a 30-goal scorer, the acquisition cost would not be insignificant, but it's a deal that is certainly worth exploring if the Leafs want to solidify their depth down the middle and bolster their lineup in a meaningful way for the playoffs.
Former Islanders bench boss Lane Lambert is now an associate coach in Toronto, and is very familiar with Nelson from the time they spent together on the Island. Lambert relied heavily on Nelson then and it stands to reason that he'd enjoy the opportunity to coach him again.
With injuries piling up among the forward group, Treliving and the Leafs are likely already heavily exploring the trade market, and depending how far down the standings the Islanders fall, a deal for Nelson is not out of the question.
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