Brock Nelson’s comments on Islanders future fuel trade speculation

MONTREAL — Everything Brock Nelson says in public right now can be filtered through the lens of a contract negotiation that is reportedly ongoing between his camp and the Islanders.

But if he wants to stay with the club for the remainder of his career, what he gave on Tuesday was far from an overwhelming endorsement.

“I want what’s best for me, my family and team and everything,” Nelson said, when asked directly what he wants to happen with his future. “There’s a lot of factors that go into it. I know everybody kind of wants an answer right now. That’s not how the world works. You don’t always get what you want.

“Everything will sort itself out. Lou [Lamoriello’s] a great guy. I love playing for him. He’s a great guy. He’s given me a great opportunity the last seven years. He’s an influential guy in hockey in general. My agent has a great relationship with him and communicates with him and I know everything will kinda sort itself out.”

That will not do much to slow down the trade speculation that is currently intensifying around No. 29 as the March 7 trade deadline approaches.

It is not hard to surmise that the Islanders’ interest in moving Nelson is minimal. Lamoriello, as in the past, has repeatedly said he believes in his group and Nelson is as synonymous with this era of Islander hockey as anyone.

Moving him could change what’s been a good mix in the dressing room, not to mention leave the Islanders without one of their best scorers during what they envision being a stretch run to a playoff berth.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported over the weekend that the Islanders and agent Ben Hankinson would talk about a contract extension during the 4 Nations break, and Nelson repeatedly alluded to the relationship between Hankinson and Lamoriello on Tuesday.

But if an extension goes unsigned then keeping him risks Nelson walking out the door this summer for nothing. Given the price Nelson could fetch on the market, and given the Islanders’ very recent history with John Tavares, that would be tough to swallow.

Nelson was asked Tuesday what it would mean to be an Islander his whole career.

“I think that’s a factor,” he said. “I think that kinda goes hand in hand with me being at the stage I’m at with family and life outside of hockey. Kids are older now, in school.

“… Being familiar with the Island, different things and kids are settled down there, that’s a factor for sure. Only knowing Long Island, only being an Islander, knowing how much history the team has and the legends that have played there before and what they’ve done plays into it as well.”