Since his debut in 2015-16 as a 21-year-old, Ryan Pulock has grown in many ways.
The Islanders defenseman plays the toughest position to master, and while he may never be compared to the Drew Doughtys or P.K. Subbans of the league, he is more than on his way to establishing himself as an automatic top-pair player for years to come.
What’s more evident than Pulock's play on the ice, which produced 25 points in his final 43 games last season (a 50-point pace), is his maturity off it. He has grown in leaps and bounds and is gushing more confidence and self-awareness compared to previous training camps.
"I feel pretty good," said Pulock, who turns 24 next week. "I think my game is where I want it to be. Obviously, I am going to work every day to get better, but at this point in the preseason, I feel good and look forward to the season starting. Last year, my offense was a big part of my game, and every time I get a lane or chance to shoot, I have to take it. My confidence is as high as it’s ever been. Finished strong, had a good summer, felt great coming into camp. Keep building, doing the little things right."
Head coach Barry Trotz, tasked with installing a new defensive system to cut down on the team’s abhorrent goals against last season (296), also knows what he has in Pulock, who will be counted on to take even further leaps with the 2018-19 season only a week away.
"I think a lot of him," Trotz said of Pulock. "He’s been good. Terrific training camp. As advertised. I heard a little bit about him previously. He’s from my hometown (Daupin, Manitoba in Canada). I heard good things about the person, the character, and I’m starting to see what he is as a player, which is a pretty good package."
Speaking of those defensive changes, it’s hard to see what is different from last season to this season, so when asked for specifics, Pulock offered more insight into how the Islanders will be different and harder to play this season.
"Guys are held accountable to play within the system," he said. "Obviously, it's a learning curve. We’re still making some mistakes because of things that are different. That's why you have preseason games, to get those wrinkles out. It’s little things. There are tweaks here and there. Most it is about clearing the air and communication. Guys knowing what their job is, man-on-man or zone. All five guys on the ice need to do their job. If we all do that together, we’ll be successful."
In Wednesday night's 4-3 overtime victory over the Rangers, Pulock had two goals on choppy, slushy ice at Madison Square Garden.
Goalie Robin Lehner summed up Pulock’s performance.
Some final camp thoughts as the Islanders head to Oshawa, Ontario, for their final preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.
• Val Filppula had two assists Wednesday night, but lost all eight of his faceoffs, an area that he was brought in to specifically help with. While he remains a smart, heady player, he has most certainly lost a step or five. Unless you’re putting Tanner Fritz, who has had a strong camp and impressed Trotz, there, Filppula will play.
• On the other side of the faceoff picture, Brock Nelson won 15 of 19 and looked sharp after a lackluster performance in his previous two games. It’s never been more imperative that Nelson takes that next step to being a consistent two-way center for the Islanders to have success behind the Mathew Barzal line.
• Trotz is trying to figure out his penalty killers, and Wednesday night was still audition time. Every forward except Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier, Jordan Eberle, Anders Lee and Ross Johnston saw time on the PK (Josh Bailey had five seconds, but, hey, stats are stats!), and all defensemen were used. If the Isles can’t kill penalties, they are doomed. They allowed two power-play goals Wednesday.
• Lehner said he’s "75 to 85 percent" of where he wants to be for the regular season, and Wednesday night looked shaky at times. He couldn’t find the puck on the first Mika Zibanejad goal and allowed a softy on the Rangers forward’s second score of the game. It’s only preseason, but this will be an area to watch all season, I fear.
• Trotz alluded to the fact that New York will be looking at the waiver wire over the next couple of days as remaining training camp cuts flow in from around the league. One forward who should be concerned is Tom Kuhnhackl, who has not had a strong camp, took a ridiculous holding penalty Wednesday that led to a goal against and did not look impressive in his skating.
• Maybe one more audition coming up for Devon Toews to work his way into the top six? He certainly has earned it with a solid camp after rehabbing a shoulder injury. Luca Sbisa and Scott Mayfield had rough games against the Rangers, the former paired with Nick Leddy in Johnny Boychuk’s absence.