When the New York Islanders traded Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche at the 2025 Trade Deadline, Kyle Palmieri's production became the center of attention.

Palmieri, 34, has been a staple in the Islanders' lineup since getting traded to Long Island in 2021, spending most of his time on Nelson's wing.

 As a result, Nelson's departure left a question mark surrounding his production.

As Palmieri is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, it is important to understand how he has produced without Nelson.

In 21 games following the trade deadline, Palmieri registered 407 minutes of ice time, the second most among Islanders forwards. He recorded seven points (four goals, three assists) in that span.

In 898 minutes without Nelson this season — including before the trade — the Islanders were outscored 56-36 with only Palmieri on the ice.

Palmieri's individual production also declined following the trade. His pre-trade 82-game pace was 27 goals and 55 points, while his post-trade 82-game pace was 16 goals and 27 points.

Bridgeport Islanders Send Message To Fans After Disappointing SeasonThe Bridgeport Islanders had a bad season. There's no other way to slice that cake. They went 15-50-4-3 on the year to finish in last place, finishing with four home wins, the fewest in AHL history.

The goal totals are understandably a concern, but the assists not so much, as Nelson's track record as a consistent 25-35 goal scorer would obviously boost his linemates' production.

While Palmieri's production decreased, he still generated offensive chances. 

In the 21 games following the trade deadline, Palmieri recorded 1.12 expected goals per 60 minutes, up from 0.82 before the deadline, according to Natural Stat Trick.

With Nelson gone, Palmieri no longer had a true sniper on his line and was forced to take on a larger goal-scoring focus.

While the goals did not follow, the scoring chances did, showing he can still contribute offensively, even without Nelson.

Losing a linemate like Nelson will understadbly impact production, and Palmieri was no exception, but that does not mean he should be written off as a reliable middle-six contributor.

With the front office undergoing changes, it is expected all contract talks will be on hold until Lou Lamoriello's replacements are named.

To this point, Palmieri, a Smithtown, Long Island native, has remained consistent in his desire to return to the Islanders.

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Source link