Nelson will be the shooting threat on an Avs power play stocked with creators but the Avs will also love his ability to score at even strength. The Minnesota native ranks 10th in the NHL in 5v5 goals over the past four seasons.

The Colorado Avalanche have had one major weakness on their roster the past couple of seasons that has really held them back come playoff time: the lack of a legitimate second-line center.

Enter Nelson, the best center on the market. He is an elite second-line center whose effectiveness sometimes goes under the radar. Nelson’s all-situation scoring rate has dipped this season, but that is likely a consequence of the Islanders’ disastrous power play.