New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock was listed as having the seventh-worst contract in the NHL, according to a new ranking published by The Athletic this week, a stark reflection of how far the veteran blueliner’s stock has fallen since signing his eight-year extension in 2021.
Pulock, 30, carries a $6.2 million cap hit through the 2029–30 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 2024–25 painting a troubling picture of diminishing impact at both ends of the ice.