Adam Pelech

Where do the Islanders’ Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock rank among elite defensive duos?

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It’s been a week now since the Islanders announced they had signed d-man Adam Pelech to a long-term deal. Pelech, who will be in blue and orange for the next eight seasons, is now being paid like a top-flight defender.

With that transaction, the Isles now have a top duo of he and Ryan Pulock making the kind of salary you’d expect guys in that category to make. Pulock is set to make $5M this upcoming season and will be getting another significant raise next summer when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Now, there’s a reason Pelech and Pulock got paid — they are damn good at their jobs individually. As a pair, they have developed into one of the best in the league. To be in that echelon is no fluke either. Only a handful of teams have one stud blueliner on their team, let alone two. The Islanders are lucky to have such a luxury.

But where do they size up among the elite, elite? Based on the numbers, pretty darn high.

Per Natural Stat Trick, the duo last season ranked 9th in Shot attempt percentage at 53.4%, 7th in Shot attempts against/60 minutes at 48.1%, had the ninth-best goal differential, 12th in goals against per/60 minutes, were number one in Scoring chance differential, High-danger scoring chance differential and Expected goal differential. They also ranked third respectively n High-danger scoring chances against/60 minutes and second in Expected goals against/60 minutes.

Mind you these are all stats based on over 40-plus defensive pairings that skated over 400 minutes together at even strength in the regular season. Still, some of those stats are staggering and prove they are absolute force when they are on the ice.

“[Pelech and Pulock] can contribute offensively and can defend as well as any two guys in the league and have an effect on the overall game,” head coach Barry Trotz said back during the playoffs. “So this is a normal development of two really smart young players and giving the confidence and showing them the ice for them to have a big effect on a game.”

No disrepsect to Trotz, but the offense is the one element truly missing from Pelech and Pulock soldifying their spot as the top tandem. Neither d-man are offensive dynamos ala the Bruins’ Charilie McAvoy or even the duet of Colorado’s Cale Makar-Devon Toews (a former Islander). The two only combined this season for 31 points during the regular season. Pulock in particular really struggled to produce offensively only finding the back of the net twice.

It’s not to say that part of their game can’t take another step this upcoming season. It can most certainly be done, and might have to be with the departure of Nick Leddy, who was the team’s best offensive d-man last year and for a number of seasons. If that happens, Pelech and Pulock will be looked at in a whole new light.

But you always have to factor in the defense-first mentality. That’s the Isles’ bread and butter. And as Pelech noted after getting his deal, defending is priority number one.

“It’s great if I can contribute,” he said…”but at the end of the day, I’m a defensive player and I think it pays dividends to stick within your own game and do what you know makes you successful and the team successful. “I don’t think there’s going to be any reason to force anything with a new contract or anything, I just think it’s just staying within yourself, play your game and do what’s best for the team.”

Pelech and Pulock have done a tremendous job at upping their game over the past few years. They have entered elite status despite some of the parts of their game still needing growth. They rank pretty high now, and who knows, sooner rather than later they might very well be considered the best.

 

 

 

Islanders just committed pure robbery with Adam Pelech’s new deal

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The wait was well worth it.

Finally, the Islanders made their first official transaction of the offseason this morning announcing the extension of d-man Adam Pelech. The deal, which avoided the two sides going to arbitration, will keep Pelech in an Isles uniform for the next eight seasons and has an AAV of $5.75M.

“This is where I want to be, I think all the guys feel the same way,” Pelech said to the media this morning. “They know there’s something special here.”

First off, no your eyes aren’t deceiving you. The Isles did just lock up arguably the best defensive d-man in the NHL for a bargain totaling out to 46 MILLION DOLLARS. That’s it? I know right.

But seriously, this deal is pure robbery.

Nobody (and I mean NOBODY) expected that number after it was reported by The Athletic’s Arthur Staple two weeks ago that Pelech’s camp was asking in the $7M range. It also probably wasn’t partially beneficial after how much money had been shelled out to several high-end d-men around the league over the past couple of weeks. I mean Seth Jones’ deal in Chicago — after the Blackhawks traded for him from Columbus — came in at a lofty $76M over the next eight seasons. Colorado’s Cale Makar got paid $54 million for six years. Dougie Hamilton received a whopping $63M from the Devils.

So Pelech getting that kind of bag those three got seemed justified. But as he said this morning, those d-men’s big tickets had no effect on his standing.

“That didn’t have any effect on our negotiations at all,” Pelech noted.

Chalk that up as another win from the Islanders’ side of things. After all, he was due for a large raise as he was coming off the most team-friendly contract in the league he signed back in 2017 with the Isles that paid him $6.4M. Not to mention, the last three seasons Pelech has evolved into one of the best defenders in the league and been one of the backbones to the Isles success.

Pelech leaving that kind of money on the table might raise some eyebrows, but hey Islanders fans could care less. They now have a guy who hasn’t even scratched the surface of just how good he can be. A homegrown player too.

The 26-year-old is still two to three years away from being in his prime and the Islanders are expected to compete for a Stanley Cup in that time. Under head coach Barry Trotz, he has only gotten better with each passing season. And might we remind everyone, just last week Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman acknowledged Pelech as a future Norris Trophy candidate (Note: Friedman after watching Pelech in the postseason said he regretted not putting him on his ballot). Furthermore, Pelech’s deal allows general manager Lou Lamoriello to get take care of some of the organization’s other priorities this summer and even more flexibility for years to come.

This newest contract for Pelech associates him with such names as with Winnipeg’s Josh Morrissey, Dallas’ Esa Lindell, and Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin. Out of that group, Slavin is the only one considered elite. Pelech is the only other one on that level. So, if you’re keeping score at home, the Islanders are underpaying their number one defender compared to what other teams would be giving for their top-flight d-men for their services.

Again, this just shows how outstanding of a deal this ended up being for them.

With Pelech now in the fold for the long-haul the offseason has officially kicked off for the Islanders and with a bang. There’s more work to be done, but this first step is finally completed.  Pelech’s contract is an incredible steal and will only continue to be that way for the rest of his tenure in orange and blue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Islanders’ Adam Pelech finally becoming household name

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We’ve entered day three of free agency and everything continues to be hush-hush in and around the Islanders.

G.M. Lou Lamoriello and his confidants have put on a masterful display to not have let anything be divulged about any possible new deals in place with their key restricted and unrestricted free agents. Sooner or later though, the dam is going to break and we will either be treated to one piece of news or several transactions all at once.

One of those deals “hopefully” soon to be finalized is the long-term extension for d-man Adam Pelech. And there’s been plenty of talk about him as his stock around the NHL continues to rise.

Sportsnet’s NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman was on the No Sleep Till Belmont podcast earlier this week with Islanders’ beat writer Arthur Staple to chat about the team when he was asked which player he’s watched from afar who has improved the most as during the organization’s success the last three years. His answer: Pelech.

“Pelech is the guy,” said Friedman. “I didn’t put him on my Norris ballot this year, but as I watched the playoffs more and more, I missed not putting him on.”

I had mentioned yesterday about Pelech evolving into a possible candidate to represent Canada at next year’s Winter Olympics. But this? How can you not say wow. That’s some extremely high praise coming from one of the most well-respected journalists and analysts in the sport whose word is gold. For Friedman to also mention Pelech and the Norris Trophy in the same light is incredible considering the 26-year-old’s place was on this team not even just four seasons ago.

It’s funny that expansion draft took place last week, because it was just that scenario four years ago where former general manager Garth Snow made the bold move to protect Pelech. Snow was berated by Isles fans for his decision, which now might have turned out to be the smartest thing he did during his tenure. The proof has been there for some time now the Islanders are not complete without his presence.

“I just think he’s a heck of player,” Friedman continued. “He’s a typical Trotz-Lamoriello low-maintenance, understated guy who just plays and plays hard. I’ve become a huge fan of his game.”

Pelech’s ascent to being one of the premier d-men in the league has been on a steady pace for a while now. Already the clear-cut No. 1 d-man on the Isles, he’s finally becoming the household name everyone needs to recognize.

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While the silence has been defeaning on Long Island in terms of moves, a few miles away the Rangers have been very loud in the revamp of their squad under new general manager Chris Drury. The latest move being the acquisition of enforcer Ryan Reaves from Vegas last night.

The Islanders bullied the Rangers at the end of the regular season last year, and with Reaves now the newest Blueshirt, the rivalry between the two clubs just added some extra spice.

The Isles have history Reaves from the team’s past encounters in Vegas. Now they get to see him six times a year? Should make for some entertaining contests.

 

 

 

 

The Islanders should be sending the Bruins a thank you for the Carlo deal

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The Islanders’ offseason is set to be a difficult one in a number of ways. One of the biggest obstacles will be getting RFA Adam Pelech extended.

General Manager Lou Lamoriello made it crystal clear a few weeks ago he had all the intention of getting his restricted free agents — Pelech, Anthony Beauvillier, and Ilya Sorokin — re-signed, thus avoiding the situation he was forced into last offseason when he traded Devon Toews to Colorado.

Pelech is obviously the top priority on that list. He’s the Isles’ best defenseman and established himself as an elite defender in the NHL over the past three seasons. So there’s no doubt that he is going to get a lofty raise from the $1.6M he was making in this last contract.

With the news that came out of Boston yesterday — the Bruins announced they signed defenseman Brandon Carlo to a six-year, 24M deal — the parameters of what’s to be expected in Pelech’s new deal got a bit more clear. 

There had been a lot of speculation from the season till now that Pelech could end up in the $5.5-6M for his new contract. But seeing what he and Bruins agreed to, the Isles might be able to get him for a more affordable price.

For Carlo’s AAV to be only $4.1M, it’s a bit of a surprise if not even an underpayment. The 24-year-old has climbed the ranks of the Bruins’ backend for a few years now and is one of their top-four defenders.

Pelech has taken an identical path as the former, but is certainly going to get paid more. That’s a given.

Carlo’s numbers though could maybe lead to the Isles getting Pelech locked up at $5M or a shade above instead of having to break the bank.

That would be a massive victory for the organization.

A similar deal as such also gives Lamoriello at least a little flexibility to do some other housecleaning in regards to the organization’s other offseason moves.

The term too might even be more important than the money for Pelech’s contract. Boston showed how much they value Carlo by the amount of years they gave him. It will most likely be the same way with for Pelech.

After all, Pelech is only 26 and hasn’t even reached his prime yet. Not only that, the Islanders are Stanley Cup contenders and have a system that will allow them to sustain success long-term.

Some would say Carlo and Pelech are in the same echelon of d-men in the league. Let’s call it the second tier. But Pelech is definitely above Carlo in terms of importance to his team’s overall success. The Islanders rely on defense and don’t have some of the horses Boston does. They also don’t have a Charlie McAvoy like Carlo and the B’s do.

Don’t think for a second that doesn’t play a factor in contract negotiations. It will.

Now that Carlo has his deal done, there’s more clarity of where things might end up going between Pelech and the Isles over the next few weeks. The contract revealed yesterday can only be beneficial as the offseason moves forward.

And the Isles might want to send their Massachusetts brethren a thank you for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Islanders’ Adam Pelech showing again why he deserves to be among NHL’s elite

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When it comes to the elite in the NHL, it’s a very select group. They are the best of the best and are spotlighted at length because of it. The Islanders do have someone in this category. And here’s a hint: it’s not Mathew Barzal. Barzal gets the most recognition because he’s the biggest name for the organization right now.

So if it’s big Barzal, who is it? Answer Adam Pelech. Pelech? Yes it’s him. You wouldn’t know it because the Isles are not given the same respect as other clubs around.

If you watch the Islanders play and Pelech is on the ice, your eyes immediately are glued to him. His unassuming but excellent play, creativity in defending opponents and underrated skill all make him somebody you need to watch. Take it from NBC’s Pierre McGuire who has worked a good portion of both playoff series the Isles have been in. McGuire made it a point in the Penguins series to point out why Pittsburgh needed to go after him at all cost. That’s been the same message for the second round as the Islanders play the Bruins.

You don’t get that much attention without being good.

Pelech is that talented.

He’s continued to evolve under head coach Barry Trotz. He is elite by his coach’s and teammates standards. While some may argue because of his low offensive numbers — Pelech has just one point in the playoffs and recorded just 14 points in the regular season —  keep him from being in the conversation with the Victor Hedmans and Roman Josis of the world, he is still one of the better two-way defenders in the league.

The 26-year-old Pelech has been tasked along with his D-partner Ryan Pulock in helping shut down the Boston’s “Perfection Line” after having to deal with Sidney Crosby in the first round. Those two did a wonderful job eliminating Crosby, who was limited to just two points in six games. Pelech really turned it on in the final three contests and didn’t allow 87 any chance to do damage. It’s been a different story through the first two games against the Bruins, but Pelech is showing he can hold his own.

If the Islanders are able to overcome Boston and Pelech excels, there’s no reason he shouldn’t get the recognition he’s long deserved.

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Game three tomorrow night is expected to be another huge moment for the Nassau Coliseum. It’s the first time in 28 years the building will have hosted a game in the second round of the playoffs. And with the Isles series tied at one, the Coli is expected to have an electric atmosphere believes Casey Cizikas.

 

Adam Pelech’s underrated offensive skill has come to light for the Islanders this season

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When you think of the Islanders’ blue line and the word offense, you’re most likely to stop at two specific names: Ryan Pulock and Nick Leddy. Those two are far and away the club’s two best offensive d-men. Their point totals through 25 games prove it — Leddy with 16, Pulock with ten.

But as the season has progressed, another defender has quietly shown his nack for getting in on the attack, Adam Pelech.

The 26-year-old Pelech has seven points this year, fourth-most for an Isles D. That might not sound like much, but it shows he has tried to contribute more with the puck on his tape. And there have been instances where that mindset has really come to the forefront.

Pelech’s underestimated offensive skill set has been lauded by head coach Barry Trotz for awhile now. During the Isles’ long postseason in the bubble, Trotz talked about Pelech hitting his stride in that department. The most common used term though is “deception”. Obviously it’s carried over to this season as Pelech has already totaled 40 shots this season and is a +6.

“I think you’re starting to see that side of his game a bit more,” Trotz noted a few weeks ago. “You see him getting up in the rush more, he’s more comfortable with that.”

Now while Pelech’s offensive outlook pales in comparison to how he’s viewed as a defender — Pelech is considered one of top defensive d-men in the NHL — there’s no denying the increase in production adds another layer to what makes him such a valuable piece to the Islanders. As said before, the Isles depend on 2 and 6 to be the main drivers offensively on the back end. Throw Noah Dobson in there now too if you’d like for what he’s added, 11 points in 25 games.

But Pelech? It’s almost an added bonus because he’s relied upon so much to be a shutout number-one D.

No longer having Johnny Boychuk and Devon Toews (both known for their offensive contributions) on the blue line also has to be taken into account with why we’re seeing a bit more attack from No. 3.

Pelech has come a long way from two years ago where his spot on the Isles’ d-core was in question. Flexing his muscles offensively only strengthens how much of his game has evolved.

And as the Islanders continue to win, and the more he shows that side of him, the even scarier they will be moving forward.

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We’ve written about how terrific Anders Lee has been for the Islanders all season long. But one star might stand above the rest.

According to NHL.com’s Pete Jensen, the Isles’ captain is the only player in the league this season with ten or more goals, three or more shots on goal per game and one-and-a-half hits per game.

Currently, Lee has three goals in his last four games and is on pace to score over 35 goals by season’s end.

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Mathew Barzal’s otherworldly goal over the weekend had everyone trying to figure out how to describe what they had witnessed. Even himself had no words for what he was able to pull off.

New York Islanders: Predictions for the 2021 season

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 Anthony Beauvillier , New York Islanders

The New York Islanders season finally begins tonight after a 3-month layoff since their last game. I just want to say what a great job the NHL has done handling Coronavirus. Not a single league, other than maybe the UFC, has handled COVID-19 better than the NHL.

Back to the Islanders. This 2021 Islanders team is basically the same team as the 2020 team, but it feels different. With additions of Ilya Sorokin and other 3rd liners. The development of Noah Dobson, Oliver Wahlstrom, and Kieffer Bellows. This team, on paper, looks better than the 2020 team, even without Devon Toews. Hockey is finally back, and with a new season comes new predictions.

Top New York Islanders predictions for the 2021 season:

Mat Barzal Bounces Back

It’s weird when a pro-athlete scores 60 points in 68 games, and it’s a down year. But this just shows how talented Mat Barzal really is. My biggest critique of Barzal at one point was the fact that he never shot the puck. Barzal would always pass it to someone who was covered instead of taking an open shot. Barzal only took 170 shots last year, he needs to take around 220 in a full season. But then the playoffs came, and he finally started shooting the puck. And when a dangerous player gets the puck on the net, good things happen. With a good backcheck and some more effort on defense, it looks like Barzal could become a top center in this league.

Anthony Beauvillier Leads the Team in Goals

This is somewhat of a bold prediction due to the goal scoring talent at the center position. Brock Nelson, JG Pageau, and Mat Barzal are normally the ones who lead the team in scoring. But, there’s something undeniable in the way that Beauvillier plays. He’s a baby flame who’s just getting ready to scorch the whole house. With linemates like Josh Bailey and Brock Nelson, there’s a big possibility that this can happen.

Adam Pelech gets in the Norris Trophy Race.

Adam Pelech has been the Islanders’ best-kept secret for the longest time. Pelech is probably the most underrated defenseman in the entire league. I would go as far as to say that Pelech is the most important player on the team. The Islanders slumped so terribly when Pelech got hurt the Isles went 10-13-7 and let up around 3 goals a game. But, when Pelech’s healthy, they went 25-10-3 and let up only around 2.5 goals a game. If the Norris trophy actually focused on defense, Pelech would’ve won it by now.

Ilya Sorokin Wins the Calder

The rookie of the year goes to the 25-year-old Ilya Sorokin. There’s actually zero doubt in my mind about this. The only thing that may be holding him back is the fact that Varlamov is the starter. Sorokin was the best goalie outside of the NHL. Now that he’s here, I don’t know if anyone can stop him.

The Islanders have two Top 100 players, but should there be more?

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When the Islanders open their regular season Thursday night, they will have two of the best players in the league taking the ice for them, Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock.

The Athletic NHL released its Top 100 Players tier list for the 2021 season yesterday and it was Barzal and Pulock who made it for the organization. Barzal was placed in the Tier 3 group under the “All-Star” umbrella while Pulock finds himself in the fourth tier for players who are at the “Top of the lineup”.

The newly extended Barzal — he and the Isles agreed to a new three-year deal over the weekend — many on the panel believe he hasn’t reached “franchise player” worthy level just yet.  “Mathew Barzal regarded as highly as he should be by the model, which doesn’t see just how involved he is in transition. The franchise-player tier is a tough sell for now, with the net results including his production being great but not quite elite,” was how he was described at the moment.

The argument about Barzal’s production is valid. Take out his Calder Trophy winning season in 2017-18 where he led the team with 85 points, and Barzal has only tallied 122 points  and 37 goals. Now it’s true, those numbers probably take a hit because of the defense-first mentality employed by head coach Barry Trotz. But Barzal is now being paid as an elite player, so his production needs to reflect that.

This is not lost on him too. He said on Saturday after signing the deal that “consistency” was going to be the most important thing with him being paid $7M a year over the next three seasons

Pulock making the list comes as quite the welcome surprise.

He’s definitely emerged as the Isles’ best and most reliable defenseman outside of his d-partner, Adam Pelech. Pulock’s numbers at both ends of the ice have continued to improve each year, but he hasn’t launched himself towards the upper echelon of d-men in the league.

This season could change that. He was was rewarded with a new two-year, 10M contract back in November and is considered to be on the rise. For right now, he’s earned the title of becoming a dominant player.

So, with two of the Islanders most prominent players listed, the question needs to be asked: should there have been more?

Pelech and forward Brock Nelson deserve some consideration.

You could make the argument that Pelech should have made the list ahead of a guy like Jake Muzzin who was in the final tier as a 4C.

Pelech has evolved into one of the top defensive d-man in the over the last two seasons and remains criminally underrated. The offensive production isn’t on the same level of Pulock, but you’d have a hard time finding a guy whose so instrumental to their team’s success. Last season and the playoffs were perfect examples.

As for Nelson, there’s no question he is the Isles’ second-best forward behind Barzal. His level of play has reached incredible heights under Trotz — 25+ goals and 50 or more points the past two seasons — and it doesn’t look like he’ll be slowing down anytime soon.

One other name who could find himself on the list soon is Anthony Beauvillier.

His postseason performance opened up a lot of eyes and now he’s expected to become an elite player this season.

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Some might want to pull out there hair, but the cap manipulation Isles g.m. Lou Lamoriello has been able to pull off is sorcery. Having to pay Andy Greene and Matt Martin — both recently re-signed — a combined $2.2M for this year is a nod to his genius.

Yes, Greene’s performance bonuses if he reaches them can have a negative effect on the cap in the summer, but Lou still deserves credit for getting him to sign below what he might have gotten on the open market.

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Josh Ho-Sang cleared waivers to no ones surprise. Now it’s on the team whether or not they want him in Bridgeport according to the New York Post’s Mollie Walker. Ho-Sang intends to be there and hopefully the team gives him that chance.

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The Coliseum is ready for its final, final go around. A happy and sad image at the same time.

Islanders’ Adam Pelech finally getting the recognition he deserves? Just maybe.

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Adam Pelech, New York Islanders

For awhile now, Adam Pelech has seen his stock rise as one of the key defenseman on a solid Islanders’ defense.

Pelech, 26, has emerged as one of the cornerstones on the Isles’ blue line who they hope is here for the next decade. And he’s only continued to get better under head coach Barry Trotz’s defensive system.

But recognition from around the NHL has been hard to come by as opposed to what Isles’ fans,  his teammates and coaches already know about the Toronto native. That being he is one of, if not, the most underrated and under appreciated defenders in the league.

Just maybe though, that narrative is beginning to change.

Yesterday, Bryce Chevallier, who is a data scientist and does hockey analytics for the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs, sent out a series of tweets talking about analytics from his site architecte-hockey.com. One of the tweets included a list of the top-five defensive players in the NHL over the last three seasons (2017-2020). At the top of it was Pelech.

Florida’s MacKenzie Weegar, Washington’s Nick Jensen, Boston’s Charlie McAvoy and Toronto’s Travis Dermott rounded the rest of the group.

Chevallier noted that the rankings consulted from defense being measured by chance suppression weighted by direct contributions such as rush defense, forechecking and takeaways in key areas of play.

“What stands out for Pelech are his remarkable scores on both defensive styles, added Chevaillier. “He also has the puck carrier attribute meaning he uses modern defensive styles but he can also cover deep as a top stay-at-home defenseman. Just admire those defensive stats.”

I’m no analytics guy — far from it — but it seems all those fancy stats show just how much Pelech has evolved.

And yes he’s evolved more than anyone could have imagined.

There was a time when former Isles g.m. Garth Snow was ridiculed for protecting Pelech in the expansion draft so that the Vegas Golden Knights couldn’t steal him away. Even more to that, Pelech was struggling and scratched a number of times during Trotz’s first year behind the bench. You look back on it now and those two moments feel like they were a long time ago. When in reality, it’s only been about three years.

Pelech’s transformation can be easily spotted when you watch him play now. All you have to do is go back and watch the mastery he’s pulled off the last two postseasons where he shut down Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Alex Ovechkin. Pretty impressive list, no?

Still, the attention paid towards him doesn’t even come close. That could change now.

Besides Chevallier’s analysis, Pelech has probably the best contract in the league for a top d-man. He’s due for a nice raise next offseason, and by all accounts he will get his bag. Plus at 26 Pelech hasn’t even reach his prime yet.

Now that he’s coming off another impressive season, one which saw him get sidelined in early January only to see him come back for the bubble postseason and then get hurt again in the Conference finals, the conversation might be shifting. And rightfully so.

Pelech has deserved recognition from those outside of Long Island for some time and now he’s beginning to get it.

New York Islanders: Adam Pelech must be re-signed now

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Adam Pelech, New York Islanders

The New York Islanders have to resign key players like Anthony Beauvillier and Adam Pelech next year. Adam Pelech must be resigned right now, and there’s no debate about it. The Islanders with Pelech is like Barry Bonds with steroids.

Already a great team made even better by an outside force that’s underappreciated. The Islanders were 25-10-3 when Adam Pelech was healthy. And the second Pelech tore his Achilles, the Islanders dropped basically every game. They went 10-13-7 and were going to miss the playoffs until COVID. Let’s see what his contract would look like.

Length

If the Islanders can sign Pelech long term, there is no way they won’t. But, the salary cap is tight on the Island, so this might end up being a bridge deal. For the sake of argument, I’m just going to say that he gets signed long term. Now, how many years does this contract entail? 6 years seems perfect for the poke check master. It’s not a short deal, and it isn’t the maximum amount. It gives flexibility for both sides if things go sour. Hopefully, it won’t. Pelech deserves some big money, but how much?

Money

This contract is not going to be cheap at all. Adam Pelech is a top 20 defenseman in the league to people who actually know Hockey. I would even go as far as saying he would be in the Norris trophy contention if the offensive game wasn’t so heavily praised in a defenseman. Adam Pelech should earn $6-6.5 million a year for his efforts. This is a pretty generous deal for the Islanders. Pelech will take a slight pay cut to stay on the Island and win here. It’s the same thing Ryan Pulock did. Pelech will take the pay cut so the Isles can resign Beauvillier and Casey Cizikas, and others. These players aren’t greedy, that’s why they’re here.