Ryan Pulock could not help the New York Islanders reach the Stanley Cup playoffs despite his injuries.
Pulock reflected on his injury-plagued 2025–26 campaign and explained why multiple ailments hampered him during this period, even though he still played his final nine games. He made regular changes as the Isles lost seven of their final eight games and fell out of making the playoffs.
The 31-year-old defenseman played in 76 games and finished with three goals and 27 points. He finished second on the Islanders in average time on ice (20:49), behind rookie Matthew Schaefer.
Ryan Pulock battling knee, shoulder injuries
Pulock admitted to dealing with an upper body injury, which GM Matthew Darche confirmed as a shoulder injury that affected him throughout the season. But Pulock also suffered a knee injury during the Islanders’ 7–3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on March 21, causing him to miss two games and the rest of the season.
“I give Ryan Pulock credit, because he hung on by a thread at the end,” Darche said during his season-ending media availability on Wednesday. “He was playing with a knee brace and a shoulder brace. So he didn’t play [the Isles’ season finale vs Carolina]”
Although he was disappointed with how the Islanders’ season ended – they missed the playoffs, losing seven of their final 10 games – Pulock seemed grateful to recover before taking the ice again.
When Pulock was asked Wednesday how he was feeling, he said, “It’s still not a good day, but I have time to take care of things.” “Obviously, this is going to be an important offseason for me to recover, rehab and get myself stronger in a good place to start next year.”
Neither Pulock nor Darche seemed concerned about the defenseman’s knee injury, but the shoulder was still a different story. They were still assessing whether he would need a surgical procedure or whether he could do with rehabilitation alone.
“We are still evaluating whether [surgery] “Needs to be done,” Darche said. “But again, all credit to him, because he missed a game here and there, but you see what he does to play because we needed him.”
Ryan Pulock ‘hopes to be ready’ for Islanders training camp
Shoulder surgery may require several months of recovery time, but Pulock is not expected to miss the start of training camp in September.
“I haven’t had all these conversations or made any decisions or anything,” Pulock said. “But whatever path I take, I hope I’ll be prepared.”
Neither he nor Darche will use injuries as an excuse for their struggles in 2025-26. Although Pulock finished with his most single-season points since 2019–20, he scored his fewest goals in a season of more than 60 games and had only one power-play point.
“You’re never really 100 percent healthy; you’re always struggling with little things,” Pulock said. “For me, trying to compete every night was a little tough sometimes. I had to play through some things, but I’m not going to sit here and make any excuses.
“I wish I was better, especially at the lower levels.”
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