{"id":115856,"date":"2025-08-03T14:55:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-03T14:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/115856\/"},"modified":"2025-08-03T14:55:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T14:55:13","slug":"once-praised-ny-islanders-long-term-contract-now-ranked-among-the-nhl-worst","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/115856\/","title":{"rendered":"Once praised NY Islanders long-term contract now ranked among the NHL worst"},"content":{"rendered":"

New York Islanders <\/strong>defenseman Ryan Pulock<\/strong> was listed as having the seventh-worst contract in the NHL<\/strong>, according to a new ranking published by The Athletic<\/a> this week, a stark reflection of how far the veteran blueliner\u2019s stock has fallen since signing his eight-year extension in 2021.<\/p>\n

Pulock, 30, carries a $6.2 million cap hit through the 2029\u201330 season, a deal that once looked like strong value for a top-pair shutdown defender. But over the last three seasons, his play has declined considerably, with advanced metrics in 2024\u201325 painting a troubling picture of diminishing impact at both ends of the ice.<\/p>\n

In the article, The Athletic cited Pulock\u2019s 45 percent expected goals (xG) share<\/strong> and a minus-0.49 relative xG per 60 minutes<\/strong> last season\u2014one of the worst marks in the league among regular defensemen. The numbers suggest that not only was Pulock frequently out-chanced, but that the team performed significantly better without him on the ice.<\/p>\n

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Ryan Pulock’s contract was ranked 7th worst #Isles<\/a> <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd17https:\/\/t.co\/yJsAMscYpH<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/g7YCjBGgN8<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 \ud835\udc08\ud835\udc2c\ud835\udc25\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc2c \ud835\udc05\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc31 (@IslesFix) August 3, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Pulock, who once formed one of the NHL\u2019s top defensive pairings alongside Adam Pelech<\/strong>, has struggled to maintain that level of performance. Offensively, his contributions have diminished as well. Long known for his booming shot, Pulock has seen his offensive zone influence shrink, raising further concerns about his long-term value.<\/p>\n

Originally drafted 15th overall by the Islanders in 2013, Pulock was rewarded for his defensive consistency and minutes-eating role with the eight-year extension signed under former GM Lou Lamoriello<\/strong>. At the time, the move was praised as a forward-thinking commitment to a key piece of the franchise\u2019s defensive core.<\/p>\n

\"RyanNew York Islanders v Vancouver Canucks | Derek Cain\/GettyImages<\/p>\n

But with the Islanders now in a transitional phase under new GM Mathieu Darche<\/strong> and head coach Patrick Roy<\/strong>, questions are mounting about where Pulock fits in. While a bounce-back season remains possible, his contract has already become a talking point for its potential to hamper the team\u2019s cap flexibility in the coming years.<\/p>\n

For now, though, Pulock\u2019s inclusion in The Athletic\u2019s bottom-10 list serves as a reminder that even once-stable core pieces can become liabilities if performance trends don\u2019t reverse.<\/p>\n