Lou Lamoriello took out the checkbook for one of his pillars
So, has Lou Lamoriello fallen on his head? The very conservative GM has given an eight-year deal to his defenseman Adam Pelech. A pact that will allow him to pocket an average of $5.75 million per campaign, he who just signed a contract that paid him $1.6 million annually.
Pelech was a RFA, he's 26 years old, and in the last few years he's established himself as a defensive pillar of the Islanders' brigade. I repeat, we are talking about a DEFENSIVE pillar and not a quarterback like Jeff Petry, for example. He doesn't collect points, he blocks pucks (73 in 56 games).
Last year, he averaged 21:03 minutes, including 2:14 minutes shorthanded. With the Islanders, he plays a similar role to Marc-Edouard Vlasic with the Sharks. Although Vlasic has slowed down considerably in the last two years.
Since we're talking about Vlasic, this contract reminds me of the one the San Jose Sharks defenseman signed in 2017. A $56 million dollar deal for eight years. What? We are talking about a defensive defenseman, certainly very useful, but who does not have the makings of a contract at this level.
Anyway, all in all, I kind of see the same thing with this too heavy contract for a player in this category. I like Pelech, a warrior and a great brigadier in his zone, but it's expensive for this style of player. That's still my opinion!
