NY Islanders’ Bold Blue Line Overhaul is Paying Off, But What Happens Next?

This creates an issue for the Islanders, though it's a good one to have

Lamoriello has announced that both Dobson and Pulock will resume skating shortly after the 4 Nations Face-off. That creates a surplus of right-handed defensemen for the NHL club, all of whom would need to clear waivers to be sent to the minor leagues. The question becomes “Who are the odd men out”?

If the current iteration of the squad continues winning, it seems unlikely that Head Coach Patrick Roy will want to make lineup changes. He didn’t immediately reinsert Max Tsyplakov into the lineup after suspension because the team was winning. Tsyplakov was playing well, but Roy preferred to ride the hot hand. So what do you do with the returning skaters? Trade them?

Of the options, Pulock’s analytics are the worst. His poor offensive contribution drags his overall rating to 28th percentile. If the Islanders wish to go with the high-flying approach, Pulock may be the first casualty. 

But he’s got a no-trade clause

Pulock has a form of an NTC for the entirety of his eight-year, $6.15 million contract that he inked in 2021. It converts from a full NTC to a 16-team NTC after this season. It would be tough for Lamoriello to move Pulock or that contract, even if he wanted to.

Dobson is much easier.

He has no such clause in his contract. His analytics are phenomenal, as he is 71st percentile of all NHL defensemen while playing significant minutes. At only 25 years old, he would be a valuable asset to any team. Though his contract expires after this season, he’s an RFA which gives a potential suitor control over his future, contract or not. 

Then again, Dobson is valuable for a reason.