New York Islanders

Adam Pelech Day: Why He’s in Vegas, Hardest Shot, All-Star Schedule

Published

2 years ago

February 4, 2022

Today is the day that New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech competes in his first NHL All-Star event.

As he arrived in Las Vegas on Friday morning, Adam Pelech was greeted by Edmonton Oilers’ superstar Connor McDavid. Worse ways to start your day I would probably imagine.

1️⃣ Arrive in Vegas

2️⃣ Get greeted by @cmcdavid97

All-Star Weekend starts NOW. pic.twitter.com/vn9EQb2Y0O

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 4, 2022

Pelech has been chosen the compete in the NHL’s Hardest Shot contest against Victor Hedman, Timo Meier, and Tom Wilson on Friday night.

If only he had a teammate who recorded the hardest shot five years in a row from 2007-2012…his name rhythms with Zdeno Chara.

On Saturday, Pelech will suit up for the Metropolitan Division in the 3 on 3 All-Star tournament.

The NHL Skills Competition begins Friday at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN. You can catch the All-Star Game Saturday at 3 PM ET on ABC and ESPN+.

How Did Pelech Get Here?

Adam Pelech has two goals and 10 assists on the season and has averaged 21:22 minutes per game. But Pelech was not chosen for his goal-scoring. He was chosen due to his defensive ability.

Pelech not only leads the Islanders in minutes played but also leads them in takeaways (23), hits taken (59), and is third in blocks (56). Pelech is one of the best in the NHL at using his stick and is not afraid to take a hit to make a play.

Diving into the advanced statistics, Pelech has been on the ice for 62.1% of the Islanders goals this season, which ranks first amongst Islanders starters. Pelech trails his defensive partner Scott Mayfield by a mere second, for second on the team in penalty kill minutes per game (2:14).

And when the game needs overtime, Pelech ranks second on the Islanders with 11:23 total minutes (1:25 per OT). He also ranks second on the Islanders in total shifts this season with 926.

2022 NHL Skills Competition

Fountain Face-Off– Mark Stone (VGK), Jonathan Huberdeau (FLA), Claude Giroux (PHI), Jordan Eberle (SEA), Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson (guest contestant), Roman Josi (NSH), Nick Suzuki (MTL), Zach Werenski (CBJ).

21 in ’22– Nazem Kadri (COL), Auston Matthews (TOR), Joe Pavelski (DAL), Steven Stamkos (TBL), Brady Tkachuk (OTT).

Fastest Skater– Chris Kreider (NYR), Adrian Kempe (LAK), Kyle Connor (WPG), Evgeny Kuznetsov (WSH), Jordan Kyrou (STL), Dylan Larkin (DET), Cale Makar (COL), Connor McDavid (EDM).

Save Streak– Jack Campbell (TOR), Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL), Fredrik Andersen (CAR), Tristan Jarry (PIT), Cam Talbot (MIN), Juuse Saros (NSH), Thatcher Demko (VAN), John Gibson (ANA),

Hardest Shot– Adam Pelech (NYI), Timo Meier (SJS), Victor Hedman (TBL), Tom Wilson (WSH).

Breakaway Challenge– Alex Pietrangelo (VGK), Kirill Kaprizov (MIN), Jack Hughes (NJD), Alex DeBrincat (CHI), Trevor Zegras (ANA, guest contestant), Wyatt Russell (guest contestant), Manon Rheaume (guest contestant).

Accuracy Shooting– Jonathan Marchessault (VGK), Leon Draisaitl (EDM), Clayton Keller (ARZ), Rasmus Dahlin (BUF), Sebastian Aho (CAR), Jake Guentzel (PIT), Troy Terry (ANA), Johnny Gaudreau (CGY), Patrice Bergeron (BOS), Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson (guest contestant).

2022 NHL-All Star Game Rosters

Pacific: Leon Draisaitl (EDM), Jordan Eberle (SEA), Johnny Gaudreau (CGY), Adrian Kempe (LAK), Jonathan Marchessault (VGK), Connor McDavid (captain- EDM), Timo Meier (SJS), Mark Stone (VGK), Troy Terry (ANA), Alex Pietrangelo (VGK), John Gibson (ANA), Thatcher Demko (VAN), Peter DeBoer (head coach- VGK).

Central: Kyle Connor (WPG), Alex DeBrincat (CHI), Nazem Kadri (COL), Kirill Kaprizov (MIN), Clayton Keller (ARZ), Jordan Kyrou (STL), Joe Pavelski (new captain- DAL), Roman Josi (NSH), Cale Makar (COL), Juuse Saros (NSH), Cam Talbot (MIN), Nathan Mackinnon (injured/original captain- COL), Jared Bednar (head coach- COL).

Metropolitan: Sebastian Aho (CAR), Claude Giroux (new captain- PHI), Jake Guentzel (PIT), Jack Hughes (NJD), Evgeny Kuznetsov (WSH), Chris Kreider (NYR), Tom Wilson (WSH), Adam Pelech (NYI), Zach Werenski (CBJ), Frederik Andersen (CAR), Tristan Jarry (PIT), Adam Fox (injured- NYR), Alex Ovechkin (original captain- WSH), Rod Brind A’Mour (coach- CAR)

Atlantic: Patrice Bergeron (BOS), Jonathan Huberdeau (FLA), Dylan Larkin (DET), Auston Matthews (captain- TOR), Steven Stamkos (TBL), Nick Suzuki (MTL), Brady Tkachuk (OTT), Rasmus Dahlin (BUF), Victor Hedman (TBL), Jack Campbell (TOR), Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL), Drake Batherson (injured- OTT), Andrew Brunette (coach- FLA)