Featured image courtesy of Jim McIssac

Contract rumors tend to spread like wildfire, and Adam Pelech has been the subject of them in recent days.

Islanders beat writer Arthur Staple recently discussed in an article with The Athletic what the deal could look like for the shutdown player.

What is Adam Pelech worth to the Islanders? League sources debate his next deal https://t.co/CPkcZAwE3x

— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) February 23, 2021

The defenseman, who has become a central cog in the Isles machine, has a contract that will expire following this current season. The number floating around for the Islanders to dish out is $4 million dollars over four years. 

Now, it should be noted that this is just a rumor at this point, so everything should be taken with a large grain of salt. General Manager Lou Lamoriello runs a remarkably tight ship, giving minimal credence to any rumors surrounding the Islanders organization. 

One similar contract to the one mentioned in the rumor is the Kris Russel’s of the Oilers. He signed, at age 29, a four year $4 million contract to stay with Edmonton until this season.

In the season leading up to the signing, the 2016-2017 season, Russel was averaging 21:13 of ice time per game. Currently, Adam Pelech is averaging a similar 21:02 of ice time per game. 

Russel and Pelech also have a similar way of showing their worth: defensive play. In his contract season, Russel was able to log 213 blocks over 68 games, leading the league and beating out Erik Karlsson who had 12 fewer. 

Adam Pelech has upped his stardom with his lockdown defensive play this season. While it may not be showing up in the raw stats like it did for Russel, he’s showcased his ability to take on top offensive talents in the MassMutual East Division. 

But Russel’s contract has not been perfect in hindsight. His defensive play has regressed in these past few of seasons. So what else does Russel have to offer? Disappointingly, not much. He ‘s only notched 49 points in the last four years. His defensive upside fell, and so did his entire value as a player. As such, the Oilers only had to pay him $1.25 million when they extended him for another year in October, a far cry from the deal he signed four years prior. 

Adam Pelech is in a similar defense-first boat. If he is to regress in his defensive play, then he isn’t a serious offensive weapon for the Islanders.

But when considering the age of the two players, Russel’s regression makes some sense. Pelech, when signing his next contract, will likely be 26. Russel was 30. 

If Adam Pelech is able to continue his play and not regress like Russel, a contract valued at $16 million over four years is more than reasonable for the New York Islanders.

John Smark