WINNIPEG — Barry Trotz was not in Grandview, Manitoba, for Ryan Pulock Day in August, but he read all about it in his own hometown paper, the Dauphin Herald, which covered the nearby event.
When the Islanders coach saw a new sign had been erected touting Grandview as hometown of his defenseman, he texted Pulock and wrote, "You’re a big deal there, for sure."
Then Pulock signed a contract extension last month worth nearly $50 million.
Said Trotz, "All my friends in the Dauphin and Grandview area asked if he was going to buy the golf course so they could get a deal on that.