New York Islanders Off-Season: Islanders Extend Adam Pelech

Adam Pelech had been a mainstay for Bridgeport for the last few years and needs more fine-tuning to his NHL level game. But he also earned his NHL minutes and looked comfortable after his call-up to the Isles last season. Today, our New York Islanders agreed to terms on a one-way extension with the tough defenseman, fresh off his entry-level deal. Pelech was selected in the third round (65th overall) by the Islanders in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Remember when Isles country went nuts when Snow had Pelech on the teams protected list for the NHL Expansion Draft? Well that very same Pelech signed a four-year, $1.6M AAV (Staple) contract. I mentioned at the end of June, “The Isles blue line looks like this. Leddy, Boychuk, de Haan, Seidenberg & Hickey. Ryan Pulock now has a real opportunity to make the team out of camp and more will be expected of Adam Pelech and Scott Mayfield for sure. Do not forget about Devon Toews, especially after the year he had with the BST.” There it is.

Pelech took a skate to the face, and returned in a win against the Rangers in January of 2016.

He’s in the plan on a low-cost, 4-year deal. A deal that “could” get some serious mileage out of a “possible” cornerstone, defensive-first blueliner. It will also help the Isles with the de Haan arbitration plan coming soon & Hickey’s next deal heading into the summer. I think he will have a chance to grow (much like Hickey & de Haan) into his future self with a more clearly defined role and under a similar, but a new-look coaching staff. It’s obvious that Cronin shares Snow’s enthusiasm on what Pelech can bring. An opportunity to show (along with Mayfield and Pulock) what he is capable of as a rostered, regular on defense.

"Adam has proven at a very young age that he's capable of playing an important defensive role on our team," Islanders President and General Manager Garth Snow said. "He will be an important piece of our defensive core moving forward and I'm excited to watch him continue to develop at the NHL level."

The 22 year-old Pelech had 10 points (3 & 7) in 44 games last season in his rookie campaign with New York and 12 points (3 & 9) in 53 NHL games previously. He also had 5 points (1 & 4) in 13 games with the AHL Sound Tigers last season and totals 23 points (3 & 20) in 105 AHL games with Bridgeport.

Per Release, “On the international stage, Pelech represented Canada at the 2014 World Junior Championships and the 2012 World Under-18 Junior Championships, winning bronze in 2012. He also won gold with Team Canada-Ontario at the 2011 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge.”

Isles Notes:

Per Staple, “Pulock is not waiver-exempt this coming season. So #Isles will have 8 D who all need waivers.”

Per Andy Graziano, “#isles, per @CapFriendly, at 7.8 cap space with 13 F/5 D and 2 G. deHaan needs contract.”

“Best guess for de Haan arbitration, scheduled for next Weds, Aug 2 : team 3, de Haan camp 4.5. #isles”

NHL Notes:

Thank you from former Isle, Kyle Okposo