Brock Nelson was eager to get a deal done with the Islanders ahead of his Aug. 3 arbitration hearing in no small part due to the departure of John Tavares.



“He was our key guy. That’s a lot of minutes,” Nelson told The Athletic on Monday evening, just after he signed his one-year, $4.25 million deal. “Every player wants to do more, contribute more, get a chance to play as much as you can. With Johnny gone, there’s some pathways opened up to do that, for me and some other guys.”



The one-year deal fits with what Lou Lamoriello is doing with his roster going into 2018-19: Short-term, prove-it options for players nearing or in free agency age as he and Barry Trotz figure out what they have. Nelson’s salary would be eminently movable if the Islanders falter this season.



It also made sense for Nelson, despite the fact he’s coming off a forgettable, 19-goal season in which he averaged 12:04 per game at even strength,...