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This piece will be another in my series of player profiles, where I’ll give some thoughts on the performance of a member of the New York Islanders this season. This article will focus on Ryan Pulock.
Pulock has a very well-rounded game and is certainly New York’s best all-around defender– and he showed that again this season. He’s able to put up strong numbers, scoring 10 goals and 35 points, but is also very defensively sound. He’s not prone to poor mistakes and doesn’t take many nights off. Pulock also averaged the most time on ice of any player on the team, both overall and at even strength and he can play on both the power play and penalty kill, which is a pretty huge benefit. Still just 25 years old, he’s likely to be the top defenseman on the team for a long time and it’s possible his pairing with Adam Pelech is one that could remain intact for years.
I’ve said it before, but Pulock is one of the few defensemen who’s just as good in his own end as he is offensively. In his third full NHL season, Pulock managed to meet, if not surpass expectations.
Here’s today’s poll question (results and discussion will be posted this weekend). Sorry to do a similar poll to yesterday but I’m genuinely very curious as to what people think about this one:
Check back tomorrow for the poll results from this week!
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
ALL PLAYER PROFILES
Josh Bailey Mathew Barzal Anthony Beauvillier Johnny Boychuk Derick Brassard Casey Cizikas Cal Clutterbuck Michael Dal Colle Noah Dobson Jordan Eberle Andy Greene Thomas Greiss Ross Johnston Otto Koivula Leo Komarov Tom Kuhnhackl Nick Leddy Anders Lee Matt Martin Scott Mayfield Brock Nelson Adam Pelech