Ryan Pulock recalls NY Islanders’ ‘gong show’ days and how far the team has come

Ryan Pulock has been around the New York Islanders long enough to remember when the organization looked much different than it does today.

During a recent appearance on the Tri-State Hockey Podcast, the veteran defenseman reflected on the Islanders’ transformation over the last decade, from aging facilities and uncertainty surrounding their home arena to an organization he now considers among the NHL’s best.

Pulock, selected by the Islanders with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, joined the organization while the team was still playing at Nassau Coliseum and preparing for its move to Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“The facilities weren’t great at the time,” Pulock told the Tri-State Hockey Podcast. “The Coliseum was older. There was going to be a move to Brooklyn. It was kind of a bit of a gong show-ish.”

Pulock said that despite the instability surrounding the franchise, he always felt well treated by then-general manager Garth Snow and the organization.

The larger transformation came after Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky’s ownership group took control. The Islanders eventually opened a new practice facility and UBS Arena, giving the franchise the type of infrastructure it had lacked for years.

Pulock also credited former general manager Lou Lamoriello, who joined the Islanders in 2018, with raising expectations throughout the organization.

“Lou came in and set a standard and made things as professional as possible,” Pulock said on the podcast. “He understands what needs to be there and what guys need to be successful.”

The Islanders reached the Eastern Conference final in consecutive seasons in 2020 and 2021 under Lamoriello, but Pulock’s comments focused as much on the changes away from the ice.

“At one point I feel like the Islanders were maybe laughed at a little bit,” Pulock said.

That perception, he believes, has changed.

Pulock pointed to UBS Arena, the team’s practice facility and the treatment of players and their families as examples of how far the franchise has come.

“Now it’s like we’re very fortunate,” Pulock said. “The way we are looked after from a player and family standpoint, it’s top notch.”

For Pulock, who has experienced both versions of the organization, the difference over the past decade has been substantial.

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