According to industry sources, the Washington Capitals have checked in on New York Islanders ' pending unrestricted free agent forward, Brock Nelson. While any potential team that acquires Nelson would likely want him to extend, given the cost, the Capitals are believed to have no issue with him being a pure rental.

With the NHL trade deadline approaching, New York Islanders center Brock Nelson has become a player drawing serious attention. Ranked No. 1 on Daily Faceoff’s Trade Targets board, Nelson has several teams that potentially see him as an ideal fit.

As a pending unrestricted free agent with a $6-million cap hit, Nelson is seen as the ideal rental for teams looking to bolster their lineup ahead of the playoffs with the Islanders expected to miss the postseason, thus becoming sellers at the deadline.

A potential trade for Nelson would require some creative maneuvering from Capitals GM Chris Patrick. The team has limited cap space, so retaining salary from the Islanders would be crucial. A potential trade package could involve prospects like Ethan Bear and Ryan Chesley, along with a 2025 first-round draft pick.

With less two months until the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline March 7, we’re delivering at least one deadline-focused story every day at Daily Faceoff. Today, we explore the best fits for New York Islanders center and pending UFA Brock Nelson,

The Dallas Stars have shown interest in trading for New York Islanders center Brock Nelson, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. As the March 7 trade deadline approaches, Dallas finds itself in a favorable position to add a key player, thanks to potential cap flexibility from Tyler Seguin’s long-term injured reserve (LTIR) designation.

The Washington Capitals currently sit atop the NHL standings and hope that success translates to the postseason, and per industry sources, they've looked at New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson as a potential rental option.