This might actually crack a smile outta Lou for once in laughter..

If Vancouver made the Islanders pay that exact price for Horvat on an expiring contract, then New York would get more for Nelson with 1.5 years left and arguably a similar player

The idea was to trade for Horvat & extend him. He wasn't going to be a rental.

Brock Nelson is not going to help the Canucks push to the postseason.
Maybe a team like Chicago might have an interest in him.

Two 3rd's is probably fair value but the Hawks aren't burning their 2nd retention slot for next season on a 3rd party deal. Would leave them only one for the 24/25 season.

Ah yes, that bum Brock Nelson. He wouldn't even make the Canucks. We only like players who can score at least 22 goals in 47 games. Players who score 21 goals in 47 games are weak and unhelpful. As are 6'4" centermen who average 0.8pts/game. He might not even make the Blackhawks.

Legit question: why do you think the Islanders would start selling so soon after firing their coach in the middle of the season? I would assume hiring a guy like Patrick Roy is a "win now" move that would keep them from trading their leading goalscorer, although I think a higher-end prospect/1st/2nd would be enough to make it happen if they *were* selling.

I don't imagine that the Islanders would be trading Nelson right at the moment, but if the Islanders are still trending toward missing the playoffs by the trade deadline, I think a 32 year old with a year left on his contract would be a piece they'd at least consider moving for the right price.

Doesn’t matter what happened after the trade. The fact is he was traded for with only half a season left and was a rental until signed. Nelson for 1.5 seasons costs more than what Horvat got

The Islanders acquired Horvat for 8.5 years, otherwise they wouldn't have paid what they did to get him. The market was set around that idea, so saying that it doesn't matter makes no sense.

He’d be your 3rd best forward

He won't be a good fit in my opinion.

No they didn’t. They acquired Horvat on January 30 and the extension wasn’t signed until February 5.. so they literally acquired him as a rental and took a week to negotiate. 1.5 years of Nelson costs more than Horvat.

I think you're picking at straws... Lou knew what he was doing lol

A 35-goal center is not going to help? Don't get me wrong, that trade is ridiculous (for a variety of reasons) and the chances of the Isles moving Brock are close to zero, but if they did make him available, teams would be lining up to make offers.

Interesting and creative. The payments might be a bit light though.