PHI
PIT
TOR
MTL
TBL
CHI
EDM
VAN
COL
STL
BUF
WSH
NJD
BOS
NYR
NYI
DET
CAR
NSH
CBJ
WPJ
CGY
ARI
SJS
VGK
ANA
LAK
MIN
OTT
FLO
DAL
Parker Wotherspoon | D
Sebastian Aho | D
Samuel Bolduc | D
Robert Bortuzzo | D
Dennis Cholowski | D
Noah Dobson | D
Ryan Pulock
ON-ICE VALUE
Top-Four Defenseman
STRENGTHS
Shot: Pulock has an absolute cannon from the point. If he isn’t cleanly beating goaltenders from distance, he’s handcuffing them with lasers that create second-chance looks for his teammates. He doesn’t score at an impressive rate, but he’s such a naturally gifted shooter that he creates a mess of opportunities from the back end anyway.
Assertiveness: He isn’t content to sit at the blue line either. Pulock will find moments to jump into the attack, whether he’s trailing the puck-carrier in the high slot or leading the rush himself. That willingness to join the fray tilts the ice in the Islanders’ favor.
Size: He’s built thick, standing 6’2” and weighing 215 pounds. While he may not steamroll opponents, that frame allows him to handle his business along the boards and in front of the net. Alongside another sturdy defenseman in Adam Pelech, the team’s top pairing is among the more imposing ones in the league.
WEAKNESSES
Hockey Sense: Once the opposition is settled in, Pulock is a capable shutdown defenseman. In the neutral zone, however, he often fails to process threats in time and ends up on the wrong side of the puck. He’ll step up when he shouldn’t and put Pelech in a number of compromising situations.
Consistency: Pulock’s confidence rides peaks and valleys. When he’s in the groove, he boasts one of the most dangerous point shots in the NHL. When he’s not, he becomes a bit player who gets by due to the tight collective structure surrounding him. He still hasn’t found the consistency required to fulfill his top-20 potential.
