Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the recaptcha-in-wp-comments-form domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home4/raisetm3/public_html/drive4five/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121

Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the wprss domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home4/raisetm3/public_html/drive4five/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121
Adam Pelech’s Road to Being an NHL All-Star - Drive4Five
Adam Pelech’s Road to Being an NHL All-Star

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.

Adam Pelech with the Islanders in March 2018, long before he was an NHL All-Star (Photo credit: Abbie Parr | Getty Images)

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.

Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock make up one of the best defensive pairings in the NHL. (Photo courtesy of NHL.com).

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.

Leave comment