The New York Islanders Are Counting on Adam Pelech to Be a Plus Once Again 

MINUS 

On the flip side, injuries have become a concern for Pelech. Like Pulock, his tough, physical style has led to injuries over the last couple of seasons. Last year, Pelech played in just 58 games. 

While he averaged over 20 minutes a night when playing, last season was arguably Pelech’s worst in the NHL. Moreover, Pelech is 30. That situation means that injuries could continue to pile up as father time advances. 

Additionally, some may question that Pelech’s $5.75 million cap hit is high given his defense-first role and limited offensive upside. But like Ryan Pulock, Pelech’s role isn’t to put the puck in the net. It’s to keep opponents from scoring. 

As such, the Isles are willing to pay Pelech well to shut down the opposition’s best players. That sort of role is not easy to fill, especially with the consistency Pelech has shown over the years. 

The Verdict 

If Pelech can stay healthy, Adam Pelech should continue to play a significant role for the New York Islanders. The club is counting on him to be one of the best shutdown blue liners this season, helping the team make a deep postseason run. 

While the club won’t be counting on Pelech to score 100 points, the Isles will be looking for him to remain a cornerstone of the team on its quest to bring back the Cup to The Island.