Colorado Avalanche Boost Roster with Exciting Trades: Nelson and Dufour Join the Team from New York

The Colorado Avalanche have made a big move by trading for forwards Brock Nelson and William Dufour from the New York Islanders. In return, Colorado sent defenseman Oliver Kylington, forward Calum Ritchie, a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a conditional third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft to New York.

Here’s how the picks work: If the 2026 pick moves to Philadelphia due to an earlier trade, or if it ends up being in the top-10, Colorado will give its 2027 first-round pick instead. The conditional 2028 third-round pick will kick in if the Avalanche win the 2025 Stanley Cup and Nelson plays in over half of the playoff games.

Brock Nelson, 33, has had a solid season, posting 43 points (20 goals and 23 assists) in 61 games with the Islanders. He leads the team in assists and points, is tied for second in goals, and has scored six game-winning goals. Notably, Nelson had 11 multi-point games this season, showcasing his ability to step up in crucial moments. He recently played in his 900th career game on March 3 and boasts a career-high face-off win rate of 52.8%.

Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 205 pounds, Nelson also represented Team USA at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, playing in all four games without scoring. In his 12 NHL seasons, exclusively with the Islanders, he has tallied 574 points (295 goals and 279 assists) over 901 regular-season games. In the playoffs, he’s contributed another 50 points (27 goals and 23 assists) across 78 games.

Last season was a standout for Nelson, as he set personal bests with 39 assists and 75 points. He was also selected for the NHL All-Star Game. Throughout his career, he has consistently scored over 30 goals in three different seasons and has had five seasons with at least 50 points. Nelson enjoys a healthy playing streak, currently sitting at 227 consecutive games, tying him for the 25th-longest active streak in the NHL.

Originally drafted by the Islanders in the first round of the 2010 NHL Draft, Nelson has shown his talent keenly in both the NHL and AHL, where he played for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers before making it to the big league. He also has significant international experience, representing Team USA multiple times in world championship tournaments and junior championships, winning bronze in 2015.

William Dufour, 23, has also been making strides. In the current AHL season, he played in 45 games for the Bridgeport Islanders, scoring 18 points (8 goals and 10 assists). His performance places him among the top scorers for the team. In total, Dufour has gathered 91 points (44 goals and 47 assists) across 169 AHL games since 2022. He made a brief appearance with the Islanders’ NHL team back in January 2023.

A native of Quebec City, Dufour enjoyed a successful junior career in the QMJHL, racking up 221 points (110 goals and 111 assists) in just 203 games. Notably, he had a standout season leading the league with 56 goals and was awarded the Michel Briere Trophy for being the most valuable player. He also helped his team win the Memorial Cup and earned MVP honors during that tournament.

In the trade, the Avalanche sent Oliver Kylington, who joined Colorado as a free agent and played 13 games, scoring one goal and three assists. Calum Ritchie, drafted 27th overall in 2023, also left, having played in seven games at the start of this season.