Report: Avalanche and Brock Nelson have ‘mutual interest’ on new contract

The Colorado Avalanche gave up a lot to acquire center Brock Nelson before the NHL trade deadline.

And with Nelson entering free agency this summer, it was a risk by Avs GM Chris MacFarland.

Not only did Colorado trade top prospect Calum Ritchie to acquire Nelson, the club also gave up its first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a third-rounder in 2028.

It didn’t exactly work out, at least not yet, as Nelson had only one goal in the heartbreaking first-round loss to the Dallas Stars. In a series that went seven games, Nelson did add four assists, but the Avalanche were hoping for more.

It was thought Brock Nelson could be the answer at second-line center, something they’ve been trying to solve since Nazem Kadri left for the Calgary Flames after winning the Stanley Cup in the summer of 2022.

However, the Nelson story in Colorado might not be written just yet. According to a new report from David Pagnotta on Thursday afternoon, a respected NHL insider, a new contract between Nelson and the Avs could get done before free agency opens.

There appears to be mutual interest from both the Avalanche and Brock Nelson in exploring a new contract. How that may look is too early to tell, but Nelson is open to that possibility and talks between the Avs & his agent are expected to pick up in June.

 

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) May 29, 2025

This is contrary to a different report from Adrian Dater, who said earlier this month it “doesn’t sound promising” for Nelson to be back. Hopefully, Pagnotta is correct in this case.

Sure, Nelson wasn’t fantastic in the 19 regular season games he played with the Avalanche, but he also wasn’t bad. He scored six goals and added seven assists.

It was more the postseason that was disappointing, however Nelson wasn’t the only key Colorado player who had an underwhelming series against the Stars.