There isn’t much to update on Brock Nelson or Kyle Palmieri, the New York Islanders’ two prominent pending unrestricted free agents and the two players that general manager and president of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello has gotten the most calls on ahead of Friday.
It’s the same as it was 24 hours ago: All options are on the table, according to several league sources. Lamoriello is still trying to sign both players while also taking in trade offers. Two of the sources with teams in the mix for Nelson said they feel he will be traded.
The longer it goes to the deadline without either player agreeing to a new deal, obviously, the more likely it is that one or both will be traded. There’s no shortage of suitors on two of the hottest names in this year’s trade market (Nelson ranks No. 1 on The Athletic’s Chris Johnston’s trade board and Palmieri ranks 10th).
It seems like a fuller sell-off is unlikely. Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s name hasn’t surfaced anywhere as of now, even though he would have plenty of interest with a year left on his deal.
And if Lamoriello is still holding out hope that Nelson or Palmieri wants to stay, this would appear to be going as close to Friday at 3 p.m. as the Islanders GM is willing to push it.
(Photo of Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
