By re-signing Brock Nelson to a six-year deal, the New York Islanders locked up one of their four big-name free agents ahead of July 1.
As one of a few good centers available when free agency opens Nelson could have easily been tempted by the open market. He likely could have been paid more, and maybe for longer than what he got with the Islanders.
But the Islanders made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Aside from the AAV and term, Brock got trade protection across the length of the deal, and a bit of a signing bonus.