The first domino has fallen in the Islanders’ offseason of uncertainty. So now what?
Team president Lou Lamoriello wrapped up his first big pending unrestricted free agent, inking 27-year-old Brock Nelson to a six-year, $36 million deal Thursday. The $6 million annual salary-cap hit proves to be a rather equitable solution for both player and team, even if Nelson is coming off the first 50-point season of his career.
But Nelson was the only player on the team whose numbers increased under first-year coach Barry Trotz, and he was an integral part of the Islanders’ success down the stretch as they obtained 103 points and finished second in the Metropolitan Division.