The New York Islanders announced that defenceman Adam Pelech will be out the rest of the season due to injury to his Achilles Tendon.
#Isles Injury/Transaction Update: Adam Pelech sustained an injury to his Achilles tendon prior to the team’s game on Jan. 2 vs. the New Jersey Devils. Pelech is out for the remainder of the regular season. Sebastian Aho has been recalled from Bridgeport. https://t.co/ksDQ7QLws6
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 3, 2020
Adam Pelech Injured
The injury occurred prior to the Islanders game against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night. Little is known to what caused the injury, but Pelech was a last-minute scratch prior to puck drop. With Pelech out of the lineup, the Islanders fell to the Devils by a score of 2-1. The top defenceman for the Islanders has registered nine points (one goal and eight assists) in 38 games this season. In addition, Pelech had been averaging 21:08 of ice time per game for the Islanders. The Islanders currently sit in second place in the Metropolitan Division.
Going Forward
With Pelech going on injured reserve, the Islanders recalled defenceman Sebastian Aho from Bridgeport of the AHL. This is a big opportunity for Aho, who has been one of the AHL’s top offensive defenceman this season. In 34 games with the Sound Tigers, he has 20 points (two goals and 18 assists). In his career in the AHL, Aho has played in 141 games registering 95 points (20 goals and 75 assists). Aho has seen time with the Islanders during the 2017-18 season. That year he played in 22 games registering four points (one goal and three assists).
The injury is a huge loss to the Islanders’ defence. You could clearly see during their loss to the Devils, the team was missing his presence. Ryan Pulock and Pelech were the Islanders shut down pair. Look for Nick Leddy to fill that role now with Pulock. In addition, Noah Dobson‘s minutes will start to increase. Even though the Islanders would like to ease Dobson into the league, he has been given the responsibility of playing more under head coach Barry Trotz. It will be interesting to see Dobson stays with Pulock or is paired with Johnny Boychuk going forward.
General manager Lou Lamoriello is unsure when Pelech will be able to return to the lineup. There is a possibility he can return for the playoffs.
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