Returning Home

Isles close out homestand against Brock Nelson and the Avs

Good Morning, Islanders Country.

There’s an expectation to these things now — the return video, the standing ovation, the polite applause that swells into something warmer.

Every team does it, every fan base expects it, and every player gets his 90 seconds on the scoreboard. Some call it overdone. Some roll their eyes. But on Long Island, it’s become part of the franchise’s heartbeat: once an Islander, always an Islander.

But tonight is different. Tonight is Brock Nelson.

And Nelson coming back to UBS Arena and being back on Long Island isn’t just another homecoming. It’s the return of one of the most quietly essential Islanders of the modern era. A player whose departure didn’t come with fireworks or controversy — only the bittersweet reality that nothing in sports lasts forever.

We’ve had memorable returns before. Robin Lehner is pointing to the Long Island tattoo inked on his neck. John Tavares’ infamous 2019 return felt like a full-scale civic event. Others, like Travis Hamonic or Frans Nielsen, were sweet and understated.

But Nelson? This one hits deeper and pulls on the hockey heartstrings.

A first-round pick in 2010, Nelson became something rarer: a homegrown star who stayed, delivered, and finished near the top of the franchise record books. Fifth all-time in games played. Fifth in goals. Eighth in points. Nine hundred-plus games. Two hundred ninety-five goals. Five straight seasons as the team’s leading scorer.

And unlike Josh Bailey, Cal Clutterbuck, or Matt Martin, Nelson isn’t returning in retirement or ceremonial twilight. He’s still producing. Still competing. Still chasing a Stanley Cup, but in another sweater.

So yes, there will be a tribute, but this one should bring a thunderous standing ovation. It isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about respect.

Tonight is Brock Nelson, one of the best ever to wear the crest — coming home.