Adam Pelech

Advanced analytics have pegged Pelech as one of the best and most underrated defensemen in the league over the past few seasons, and the Islanders clearly agreed, signing him to a new eight-year, $46 million contract in August. It was a massive payday for a player who has never posted more than five goals and 21 points in a single season, but it's a deal that speaks to how well Pelech has played, and by extension, how the Isles have played with him on the ice. Sadly for virtual managers, Pelech simply doesn't produce enough points, hits or blocks to be an attractive fantasy option.

Pelech is slated to see first-pairing minutes after the Islanders lost Devon Toews (trade) and Johnny Boychuk (retirement) in the offseason. The 26-year-old Pelech was solid with nine points in 38 games last year before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury. He was healthy in time for the return to play, but suffered a wrist injury that required offseason surgery. Despite those two major injuries, Pelech is ready to go for 2020-21. He's reached the 20-point mark once in his career and came close a second time, but his real value lies in his defensive prowess. He had 81 hits and 83 blocked shots with a plus-4 rating in 2019-20. He'll be worth a look in deeper formats, but it's his partner, Ryan Pulock, that will generate most of the scoring when the duo is on the ice.

While he played fewer minutes in the same amount of games during his second full NHL season, Pelech produced more goals (5) and points (21) while posting a career-best plus-22 rating in 2018-19. Like many of the Islanders defenders, he benefited from Barry Trotz's defensive structure and a jump from 2.8 to 4.5 in shooting percentage. Pelech is also a solid contributor in the "extra categories" -- he recorded 149 hits and 116 blocks in 78 games last campaign. He's still only 24, but if Pelech is going to take another step forward in fantasy circles, he'll have to receive more playing time. The 2012 third-round pick almost never skated on the power play last season, which would represent a potential opportunity for him to improve his numbers, but there's no currently indication that he will receive additional minutes at even strength or on the man advantage in 2019-20.

At 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds, Pelech is a physical specimen on the blue line, but the offense has been hard to come by during his young NHL career. Over his first full season in 2017-18, he scored just three goals and 19 points with a plus-7 rating. Pelech notched the same amount of goals last campaign as he did in 2016-17, despite receiving more than double the amount of minutes. The 23-year-old averages more than a hit and block per game, so he's useful to fantasy owners in that regard, but the real hope is that he starts inflicting more damage on opponents within the attacking zone.

With the trade of Travis Hamnoic over the summer there is a spot open on the blue line for either Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield, or Pelech. The Isles thought highly enough of Pelech to ensure that he wasn't taken by Las Vegas in the expansion draft. A strong showing by Pelech during camp could force the Islanders hand but most expect Pulock to win that final slot with one of Pelech or Mayfield serving as injury insurance and being a healthy scratch most nights while the other is playing with Bridgeport of the AHL.