The New York Islanders decided to finally allow Brock Nelson to make his NHL debut on a significant stage: Saturday’s Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to New York Newsday’s Arthur Staple.
In other words, the 21-year-old gets his first taste of action at the sport’s highest level in one of the most pressure-packed situations possible: an elimination game. No pressure, kid.
(Interesting factoid: Staple points out that Trent Hunter was the last Isles player to debut in the playoffs; he did so in 2002.)
The Islanders selected Nelson 30th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-4 forward presents a big body who scored 52 points in 66 games for the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers.