Defenceman Adam Pelech has been re-signed by the New York Islanders to an eight-year contract worth $46 million. The contract carries a salary-cap hit of $5.75 million.
#Isles News: The New York Islanders announced today that Adam Pelech has agreed to terms on an eight-year contract.https://t.co/JqiJEWnM38
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) August 6, 2021
New York Islanders Re-Sign Adam Pelech
After suffering multiple unfortunate injuries during the 2019-20 season, Pelech rebounded this year. He played the full 56 games and helped the Islanders once again reach the Stanley Cup Semifinal. Along with first-pairing partner Ryan Pulock, he averaged over 20 minutes on ice through the regular season. During the playoffs, the Islanders relied on him even more heavily, as his average time on ice increased to over 23 minutes per game.
In terms of scoring, Pelech logged four goals and 10 assists for 14 points through 56 games to go along with 18 penalty minutes. His possession numbers were 46.4 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of -3.6.
Over his six-year NHL career, Pelech has remained with the Islanders. He has 16 goals and 59 assists for a total of 75 points in 303 career games. He was originally drafted by the New York Islanders in the third round, 65 overall in the 2012 NHL draft.
What This Means for the Future
For the past three seasons, the Islanders have made the second round or better of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This success has largely sprung from head coach Barry Trotz’s implementation of a suffocating defensive system. As a result, the team’s blueliners are an important part of its overall strategy. Pelech, as the first-pairing left defenceman, plays an especially crucial role. (After all, the Islanders’ record with him in the lineup last season was 25-10-3. Without him, it was 10-13-7.)
With Pelech’s new contract, the Islanders have taken another important step towards future success. They’ve locked down one of their most effective defencemen for several seasons to come. As the Isles chase the Stanley Cup Final that’s eluded them in recent seasons, Pelech will continue to be an asset to the team.
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