Islanders: Looking At Past Arbitration Cases

It’s been announced that Adam Pelech has filed for arbitration. As our very own Brian Weinberger laid out earlier this week, the Islanders and Adam Pelech would have to present to an arbitrator their case on what the next contract should be.

Arbitration is an ugly, ugly process and you hope it doesn’t get to that point. Heck, Mike Milbury was so harsh during Tommy Salo’s hearing that he made the poor kid cry.

Luckily for Adam Pelech and the Islanders over the last 13 years, the Isles haven’t had a case actually go to the arbitration meeting. We’ll take a look at the most recent players who filed for arbitration and what the result was:

2020: Ryan Pulock and Josh Ho-Sang

For the Islanders’ top-pairing d-man, he was coming off a very team-friendly two-year deal at $2 million AAV when he became an RFA after the 2020 season. Pulock ended up getting a bridge deal for Lou Lamoriello at two-years $5 million AAV.

At the end of the deal, which comes up after this season, he’ll become a UFA. Look for the Isles to try to extend him before that happens. As for Josh Ho-Sang he was coming off a one-year $894,125 deal with New York.

He ended up signing for a $700,000 deal. While the number is lower against the cap for the Islanders, he made more money with his minors salary at $225,000.

2018: Brock Nelson

Before the 2018-2019 season, Brock Nelson was coming off a down year but had previously been someone you could pencil in for 45 points and 20-25 goals. His last bridge deal was at $2.5 million AAV and he was due a bump.

Lou Lamoriello ended up signing him for $4.25 million on a one-year deal. He performed well that season and got a six-year extension.

2017: Calvin de Haan

de Haan was another one who outperformed his contract. He was on a three-year bridge deal at $1.97 million before becoming a RFA during the 2017 offseason. Coming off the best year of his career, he was due a bump which is exactly what he ended up getting.

Garth Snow signed him for one-year $3 million before he ended up leaving as a UFA and signing for a $4.55 million AAV with Carolina.

2014: Kevin Poulin

After the 2013-2014 season, Poulin filed for arbitration but was able to settle before the hearing. He went from a one-year deal at $577,500 to one-year $650,000. He’d play just one game the following year for the Islanders.

2013: Josh Bailey

This one is unique because Josh Bailey received a long-term extension after filing for arbitration. He was coming off a bridge deal that had him at a $1.05 million. Snow extended him on a five-year deal with a cap hit of $3.3 million.

The back half of that deal the Isles got some insane value with Bailey putting up 56 and then 71 points to close out his contract.

2011: Blake Comeau

After a 24 goals and 46 point season, Blake Comeau filed for arbitration. He was making just $650,000 for the Isles before getting a bump up to $2.5 million on a one-year deal with the Islanders for the 2011-2012 season.

He’d play just 16 games for the Islanders that year failing to put up a single point.

2010: Matt Moulson

In 2009-2010, Matt Moulson came out of nowhere. After just 29 NHL games with the Kings, he became a 30 goal scorer with New York. That performance in 2009-2010 yielded him a one-year $2.45 million deal with the Isles.

He would receive a three-year $3.13 million AAV deal after that one as he finished his Islander career with 118 goals in just 304 games.

2009: Nate Tompson

Thompson played just 43 games with the Islanders putting up four points. He filed for arbitration and signed a one-year deal going from $500,000 against the cap up to $550,000. He’d play 39 games with the Isles the following year before moving to Tampa Bay where he stayed for four more years.

2008: Sean Bergenheim

Bergenheim, after being relatively unknown through his first couple of years in the league, stuck with the 2007-2008 Islanders putting up 22 points and 10 goals. When he filed for arbitration he was making $500,000 and he ended up settling before the hearing on a two-year deal with a cap hit of $862,500.

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All signs point to Adam Pelech signing a contract before the hearing date. Hopefully, he’s like Josh Bailey and gets a long-term deal done.