After a summer of resignings, the New York Islanders celebrated the eve of the new season by signing defenseman Ryan Pulock to an eight-year, $49.2 million contract extension. Pulock will play this season under the final year of his five million dollar deal signed after the bubble, with the extension taking him until his age 35 season. The deal includes a full no move clause until the 2027 season, when it will be modified. This, just like Adam Pelech’s deal, is a brilliant contract from general manager Lou Lamoriello and proves that players want to stay on Long Island for a chance to win the Stanley Cup. 

Pulock was a 2013 first-round draft pick, right in the middle of the mediocrity of the Tavares-era. Pulock launched onto the scene in the 2016 playoffs against the Florida Panthers, scoring a goal in the series and becoming a regular on the back end soon after. Pulock’s career arc follows that of many Islander core members: a fine start to their career and a meteoric rise after head coach Barry Trotz’s hiring. 

It is especially true for Pulock and Pelech, who went from two middling defensemen to co-stars in one of the NHL’s top shutdown pairs. Now, the two of them have signed contracts for a combined $11.9 million dollars. This comes after a summer full of defensemen landing very expensive contracts. Seth Jones and Darnell Nurse specifically signed deals for way more than many thought they were worth. 

The entire Islanders system, although it has not shined in the first two games of the season, is built around defense. It could not work as well as it does without Pulock and Pelech. Pelech is the shutdown defensemen, wielding that telephone-pole-sized left-handed stick to break up rushes and lock down some of the league’s best players while Pulock powers his slapshot on the power play and has improved his defensive game dramatically. 

This takes a crucial item off Lamoriello’s to-do list for the 2022 offseason, with Noah Dobson’s second contract being another major item then. Mathew Barzal will enter the final year of his deal next year, so the Islanders’ goal is to free up as much cap space as possible to throw the bag at their star center. This contract is a great way to start, by not letting Pulock get to unrestricted free agency, where he would undoubtedly command a higher annual average value (AAV) than the $6.15 million that this deal carries. 

This is a great contract for the Islanders and their future cap sheet when it comes to extending their Stanley Cup window. Pulock is the cherry on top of what was a great offseason in finding value in the players they already have and solidifying themselves as contenders in the East.