By trading only Brock Nelson this week, general manager Lou Lamoriello committed to the challenge of trying to retool the New York Islanders while keeping them in contention.

Welcome back to another edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey reviews the scheduled games and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will win in key head-to-head matchups.

New York Islanders (29-26-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Anaheim Ducks (27-28-7, in the Pacific Division)

The Islanders trail the Ducks in the season series 0-1-0 after a 3-1 loss at UBS Arena on Oct. 29. Mathew Barzal scored the lone goal for the Islanders with a power play tally, but it wasn’t enough to combat Anaheim’s offense with Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry potting power play goals of their own and Frank Vatrano burying the empty-net goal.

The Ducks received 19-year-old prospect Herman Traff and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft in exchange for defenseman Brian Dumoulin.

Just seven hours after Friday’s NHL trade deadline, the Ducks will welcome back a beloved player whom they dealt earlier this season, defenseman Cam Fowler, and his new club, the St. Louis Blues.

The Colorado Avalanche made a big splash on the eve of the NHL trade deadline late Thursday night by getting center Brock Nelson from the New York Islanders.