Still, despite talk the Isles have made, presumably highly lucrative, contract extension offers to Nelson in the recent past, Nelson’s agent, Ron Salcer indicated to Staple that as if this week they had not heard from the Islanders in six weeks. It’s been awhile since the sides have talked.
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We haven’t heard from them in six weeks.
Salcer would not tell Staple the specifics on money, but did say the team offered a two-year deal that was not a fair contract. Nelson did not accept the Islanders’ qualifying offer this summer.
The pressure was theoretically on for Nelson to get a deal done, with Islanders majority owner Charles Wang placing an artificial deadline on negotiations. Chara did, in fact, end up playing the 2000-01 season for the Islanders.
From Warroad, Minnesota, he was drafted 30th overall in 2010.
The Islanders needed to strike a deal with Nelson before training camp, as a self-imposed rule stated that any player not signed before that deadline would be forced to sit out the entire season, per CBSSports.com’s Adam Gretz.
But with the other contracts sure to trouble Snow in the coming months – Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, Michael Grabner – Nelson and Salcer may simply be stuck in a situation where a good player is falling by the wayside as better, more integral and well-established players take precedent.
So from the club’s perspective, that’s what Nelson should do. “I just want to go out and play the game”.
Given how rare offer sheets are in the NHL it’s a long-shot possibility, but it’s one that should definitely be on the table if the Islanders and Nelson are unable to reach a new deal this week.
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Nelson finished last season with 20 goals and 42 points, but disappeared over a 50-game stretch, scoring just five goals.
