Islanders blueliners Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock raise their games
The Islanders' Adam Pelech, left, talks with teammate Ryan Pulock during a game against the Washington Capitals at UBS Arena on Apr. 6. Credit: Jim McIsaac
They’re not currently paired together, as they had been for a good portion of their eight previous seasons when they served as the Islanders’ top shutdown duo.
But defensemen Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock, both 31, have played for most of this season in a way reminiscent of their previous prime.
“They’ve both been outstanding,” coach Patrick Roy said. “Every game we know what we get from them. They’re solid in our zone. They’re moving the puck up. They make good decisions with the puck.”
The right-shooting Pulock remained paired with No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer as the Islanders concluded a seven-game homestand against the NHL-best Avalanche on Thursday night at UBS Arena. The left-shooting Pelech continued to skate with Tony DeAngelo.
Pelech and Pulock were 1-2 among Islanders defensemen in blocked shots and takeaways.
“I feel good but I still feel like there’s lots of ways I can improve,” said Pelech, who entered Thursday with two assists in 27 games and was fifth on the team with an average ice time of 19:54.
“That’s just the nature of the business. You have to continue to get better or you’re going to fall behind. By no means am I fully satisfied with how I’ve been playing. I’m still trying to get better every day.”
Pelech, in the fifth season of an eight-year, $46 million deal, was slowed by injuries the previous three seasons and did not play more than 61 games.
Pulock, who last played all 82 games in 2022-23, entered Thursday with 11 assists in 27 games and was fourth with an average ice time of 20:23.
“I think I’ve had moments the last few years where I’ve been pretty good,” said Pulock, in the fourth season of an eight-year, $49.2 million deal. “There’s been moments where I haven’t been as good. I like the way I’m playing right now. I feel like I’m moving well. I’m defending pretty well. You’re going to go through ups and downs throughout the season.”
Roy said he has noticed a difference in Pulock’s game this season.
“This year he seems to be very confident with the puck,” he said. “I would say maybe more free in the way he’s jumping into the rush. I feel that brings a lot of positive to his game and I think that helps him.”
Still, there’s no shying away from the fact that both are middle-aged, at best, when it comes to the career arc of an NHL defenseman.
Consistently improving, as Pelech said is the goal, gets tougher and tougher each season.
“For sure,” he said. “I think about it sometimes. I bet if I were to look at a game from 10 years ago or so, it would look a lot different. The game would look a lot different and myself, I’m sure, would look a lot different.
“You don’t really notice it as much day to day. But your teammates pushing you every day in practice, the competition getting better every year, it just forces you to improve.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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