Q & A With A Healthy Adam Pelech

Stefen Rosner sat down with Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech to discuss his rerturn to the lineup after a jaw injury and more.

Stefen Rosner

David Kolb

, and

The Elmonters

Dec 20, 2024

**PHOTO: Madison Peyser/New York Islanders**

After missing 20 games with a broken jaw, New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech returned to the lineup against the Chicago Blackhawks this past Sunday.

Following Thursday’s practice, I caught up with the 30-year-old defenseman to see how he was donig and pick his brain on a few things:

Stefen Rosner: Two games back, how are you feeling about where your game is at?

Adam Pelech: “I think in Chicago, I definitely felt a little rusty, but, Pully had a great day, and made my job as easy as could be. Then by Carolina, I felt much better. I felt more up to speed. I felt like I was skating well, and obviously the result wasn't there, but I think there were a lot of good things to build on.”

Rosner: In your absence, Isaiah George got an opportunity and for the most part shined. What did you notice about his game?

Pelech: “I actually skated and worked out with him quite a bit the past couple summers in Toronto. So, I knew his game quite well, and I knew that he'd have no problem adjusting to the game at this level. He moves so well. He's a smart player, and he's ready to absorb all the information and get better, so I thought he did a great job. A lot of guys did a really good job stepping up when we had some injuries on the back end, and, like I said, Georgie was great.”

Rosner: The penalty kill has been struggling. What have you noticed while you were out of the lineup and what did you notice when you returned?

Pelech: “I think maybe the biggest issue is guys like duplicating on one threat and giving up something else. You're always going to give up something, right, and you need to be strategic about that, what you want to give up against what team, what you want to make sure you lock down. So I just think it's about hammering out reps in practice like we did today, and everyone knowing their responsibility and doing it to the best of their ability.”

Rosner: Obviously, it sounds like the duplicating thing is a communication issue. How do you improve that in the moment, especially when power plays move the puck rather quickly?

Pelech: “A lot of it is…it feels like chemistry, almost. That's why I say you really need to get the reps in because once you do it enough with a certain D partner or certain forward pair, I think you kind of have a sense of where your teammates are going to be, and what everyone's responsibility is. So, yeah, I just think we have to keep working hard, keep building and the results will come in.”

Rosner: You talk about chemisty. Does it make it easier then to kill penalties with your 5-on-5 D parter rather than a defensmean you don’t skate with much during a game?

Pelech: “I don't think necessarily, because I've killed a lot with Mayfield over the years, and I haven't played too much 5-on-5 with him. I have a little, but it's pretty different. It's just a pretty specific thing you're dealing with, with the kill. I think it's more important to kind of get those penalty kill reps in with killing reps in with the guys you're gonna be out there with.”

Rosner: Ok, last one and thanks for chatting. You have a new contraption to protect your jaw. Any issues with vision, especially when looking down?

Pelech: “I was surprised. It's actually not too bad. It doesn't really restrict my vision at all.”

Islanders Barzal Back — Willing To Do Everything It Takes To Win

EAST MEADOW, NY -- Back in the lineup after dealing with a long-term upper-body injury, New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal will do whatever it takes to help his team win hockey games.

"I was open to playing wing. I was open to coming back to center," Barzal told The Hockey News following Thursday's practice. "I'm open to playing on the penalty kill."

The Islanders' penalty kill is dead last in the NHL at 64.3 percent, going 0-for-1 on Tuesday night to allow the Hurricanes to strike first.

Head coach Patrick Roy isn't ready for Barzal to be on the penalty kill but didn't rule it out going forward.

After The Dust Settled, Islanders Are Now Ready For A Duclair Activation

EAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders defenseman Grant Hutton has cleared waivers, giving the Islanders an additional $775,000 to work with.

With goaltender Semyon Varlamov ($2.75M) being placed on long-term injured reserve on Thursday morning, retroactively to Dec. 3, the Islanders have now cleared enough cap space to activate Anthony Duclair out of long-term injured reserve.

Here's what head coach Patrick Roy had to say about Duclair's availability for Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs: