Brock Nelson’s current scoring drought reached 17 games Sunday, but Roy does not have to approach it the same way with No. 29. Nelson is not one to beat himself up, like Horvat, or get frustrated, like Mat Barzal. At least publicly, he is steady and optimistic, almost without fail.

The New York Islanders are stuck at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and, in theory, should be sellers at the March 7 trade deadline. General manager Lou Lamoriello, however, is not ready to throw in the towel just yet.

During what amounted to a State of the Islanders Q&A with reporters at the midpoint of the season on Thursday, Lou Lamoriello thought it interesting that questions about the recent struggles of Brock Nelson,

Patrick Roy was a pending unrestricted free agent when the Hall of Fame goalie forced a trade from the Canadiens on Dec. 6, 1995, and ultimately led his new team, the Avalanche, to the Stanley Cup in 1996. He then signed a three-year, $14 million deal to stay with Colorado.

The march to March 7 is on. We’re now exactly two months away from the NHL’s Trade Deadline on March 7 at 3 o’clock ET. Trade season might be coming even sooner than some might realize with a 10-day break upcoming in February for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Two months out from the NHL’s trade deadline, selling off assets is “not even a thought” in the mind of Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello. That is in keeping with his history, and the Islanders waking up Thursday morning in 15th place in the 16-team Eastern Conference — with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri both on expiring contracts — is not enough to change things as of now.