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Every article, I try to include a poll question for readers to vote on, then review the results from the week’s polls every weekend. Here’s this week’s poll results and my thoughts on how they turned out.
QUESTION: Does Scott Mayfield’s contract bring the most value per dollar of any deal on New York’s payroll?
(Votes: 82)
Yes: 88%
No: 12%
I probably should’ve tried to be more specific for this somehow. As long as Adam Pelech’s deal isn’t eligible here, as it was technically a bridge-deal and there’s only one year left on it, I agree that Mayfield’s long-term contract is the best one on the payroll. Getting a defender who can play in the top-four and is extremely effective defensively on a five-year deal for less than $1.5 million a year is pretty outstanding.
QUESTION: How many points do you expect from Brock Nelson next season?
(Votes: 84)
60-65 points: 49%
55-60 points: 26%
More than 65 points: 13%
50-55 points: 11%
Less than 50 points: 1%
In this one, 62 per cent of voters think Nelson is hitting the 60-point mark once again and I think there’s a pretty strong chance of that. Only a single voter said Nelson would be below 50 points, which is pretty wild, considering two years ago he had never even hit the 50-point mark and now most people can’t see him falling below it. Like most voters, I see the range being somewhere from 55 points on the low end up to 65 points on the high end. Expecting anything more than that is pretty wishful thinking but I guess as we saw with Nelson this year, you never know. He really upped his game this season and it looks as though he’ll be able to produce at a pretty reasonable pace for a second-line center.
QUESTION: What is your early prediction of the AAV for Adam Pelech’s next contract (on a five-year deal)?
(Votes: 65)
Between $4-5M: 63%
Over $5M: 20%
Between $3-4M: 14$
Under $3M: 3%
There was a pretty strong majority for between $4-5M on Pelech’s next contract and it’s the option I agree with. It could be in the high $4Ms but I don’t think we see it surpass $5M per year, especially if it were on just a five-year deal. As reliable as his game is, Pelech doesn’t have the flashy point totals to drive the price higher, which works to New York’s advantage. He’s a top-pair defenseman that the Islanders will likely retain for a reasonable price.
QUESTION: What is your early prediction of the AAV for Ryan Pulock’s next contract (on an eight-year deal)?
(Votes: 103)
Between $6M and $7M: 62%
Between $7M and $8M: 24%
Under $6M: 11%
Over $8M: 3%
I think this is the first time there’s been a clear majority voting for an option that I don’t agree with. Pulock has established himself as New York’s best defenseman and he puts up the numbers that often make for a higher price. He has no significant flaws that would bring down the AAV and he’s durable, having played every game over the last two seasons. The one thing I could see keeping this price down a little bit is his lack of NHL experience for a 25-year-old, based on him only playing in his third full NHL season, but I can’t see that having a massive effect. After seeing Jacob Trouba sign at a similar age for eight years at $8M per year and having very similar numbers to Pulock prior to his contract year, I don’t know that Pulock will be taking over $1M less than Trouba per year. As mentioned in the article, I’ll do a more in-depth look at this in the next little while but around the $7.5M mark is where I think Pulock may land if the two sides meet on an eight-year deal. I could certainly be wrong here (and for the sake of New York’s cap space, hopefully I am) but getting him on a maximum-term contract for under $7M per year would be a steal.
Check back tomorrow for a player profile on Devon Toews!
OTHER ISLANDERS ARTICLES FROM APRIL
Reviewing the season (so far): Thomas Greiss
Reviewing the season (so far): Ross Johnston
Reviewing the season (so far): Otto Koivula
Reviewing this week's polls (April 4): Islanders Edition
Reviewing the season (so far): Leo Komarov
Reviewing the season (so far): Tom Kuhnhackl
Reviewing the season (so far): Nick Leddy
Reviewing the season (so far): Anders Lee
Reviewing the season (so far): Matt Martin
Could the Islanders look to add a top-line winger through a trade?
Sorokin reportedly turns down KHL extension, will sign with Islanders
Reviewing this week’s polls: Islanders Edition
Reviewing the season (so far): Scott Mayfield
Reviewing the season (so far): Brock Nelson
Reviewing the season (so far): Adam Pelech
Reviewing the season (so far): Ryan Pulock 
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