Adam Pelech is an All-Star. Clearly, the NHL is starting to notice how important Pelech is for the Islanders.

So much so that he’ll join a stacked Metropolitan Division team. Alex Ovechkin and Claude Giroux are among the returning All-Stars, and Adam Fox and Jack Hughes headline some of the newcomers.

Pelech, 27, was named to his first All-Star Game on Jan. 13, and he will represent the Islanders in Las Vegas at the event on Feb. 5. For Pelech, it’s the completion of an arc that has seen him go from one of the worst to one of the best defensemen in the game.

Pelech’s story truly begins in the 2017-18 season. After spending time between the Islanders and their minor league affiliate in the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Pelech played his first season as a full-time NHL player. However, things didn’t go smoothly for him in the transition, as he was one of the worst defensemen on the team. He was constantly out of position, often tipping pucks into his own net. Pelech was a frustrating player to watch that season with his future very much in question.

However, after the offseason in 2018, Barry Trotz came in and made him a part of their plans moving forward. He paired him with Ryan Pulock in their season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes, and that move was a sign of things to come. Pelech had a massive resurgence in 2018-19, enjoying a breakout year alongside Pulock. The pairing thrived in Trotz’s structure, becoming one of the best defensive pairings in the league in their time together. Individually, Pelech tallied a plus-minus of +22 that season, a career-high. In fact, that pairing was key to shutting down Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 1 of that year’s playoffs.

However, his success following that season extended into the seasons that followed. Although his 2019-20 regular season was cut short due to an Achilles tendon injury, he came back for the playoffs to help the Islanders to the Eastern Conference Final. Along the way, he helped to shut down the likes of Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov of the Panthers, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom of the Capitals, and Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek of the Flyers.

The next postseason, he helped the Islanders to beat Crosby and the Penguins again as well as the “Perfection Line” of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak and Boston. With their postseason success, Pelech proved how valuable he is to the Islanders lineup, as he can shut down some of the best forwards in hockey.

That takes us to today, where Pelech’s play is well recognized throughout the league. With this turnaround, Pelech now has a chance to play on a national stage in Las Vegas and prove his reputation further. Although he is not the most attention-grabbing player on his team, the nomination highlights his value to the team.

Matthew Page

I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.