Nelson, a two-way center with soft hands around the net, has hockey in his bloodlines.

The 6-foot-3, 206-pound Nelson is the nephew of Dave Christian, a forward who won a gold medal with the 1980 United States Olympic team and later played 1,009 NHL games. Nelson's grandfather Billy Christian and great uncle Roger Christian were members of the United States' 1960 Olympic team that won gold. Another great uncle, Gordon Christian, won a silver medal with the U.S. at the 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympics.

After being selected by the New York Islanders in the first round (No. 30) in the 2010 NHL Draft, the Warroad, Minn., native spent two seasons at the University of North Dakota. In 2011-12, his sophomore season, he was third in NCAA Division I with 28 goals and tied for 12th with 47 points. He also helped the United States win a bronze medal at the 2011 World Junior Championship.

Nelson turned pro after his second season at North Dakota. After appearing in four games late in the American Hockey League season with Bridgeport, he spent 2012-13 there, finishing with 25 goals and 52 points in 66 games. Nelson made his NHL debut in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, appearing in Game 6 of the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Nelson earned a spot on the opening night roster for 2013-14 and got his first NHL point in the third game of the season with an assist against the Phoenix Coyotes on Oct. 8, 2013. He scored his first NHL goal against Roberto Luongo in an overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 22, 2013, and finished his rookie season with 14 goals and 26 points.

Nelson further established himself with New York by scoring 20 goals and 42 points in 2014-15. He had two goals in Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals that spring.