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Adam Pelech Filing for Arbitration is Par for Course as Contract Talks Continue

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Adam Pelech speaks to the media

It shouldn’t have come as a surprise on Sunday to see Adam Pelech among the 17 players that filed for arbitration on Sunday.

Pelech is among three key restricted free agents that need a new contract from the New York Islanders, along with Anthony Beauvillier and Ilya Sorokin. All three are due for raises with Pelech set to receive the most significant one.

However, there shouldn’t be any worry that negotiations are not going well with Adam Pelech because of his decision to file for arbitration. The Islanders and Pelech have been working on a new contract and it is believed he is asking for more than $6 million in a new long-term deal.

The decision to file for arbitration puts a deadline of sorts on talks for a new deal to get done before the two parties have to sit in front of an arbitrator. Neither side wants to do that and it is very rare that it would get to that point.

Contracts awarded through arbitration can only be one or two years and the team can reject the arbitrated contract, which would make the player an unrestricted free agent. It’s not a position either the player or team wants to be in.

In the case of Pelech, the odds of the Islanders’ top defenseman getting to that point is not likely. Ryan Pulock filed for arbitration last season and the two sides agreed to a new deal five days before they were scheduled to go in front of an arbitrator.

No date has been set for an arbitration hearing for Adam Pelech, but the situation will likely play out the same way if not getting a new deal done sooner.

Adam Pelech has been a cornerstone of the Islanders’ defense and is, as previously mentioned, looking at a long-term deal of around $6 million dollars. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello has stated several times that his main priority this offseason was to bring everyone back that he can.

That starts with Pelech and his restricted free agents.

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