I think inquiring about a guy like Pulock isn't a bad idea, but I think some Jets fans might want to read some of the comments from Islander fans who watch their team more closely. Not saying everything they say is gospel, or that it reflects their management or value in the league, but there is a stark difference to their comments and some on here.
Some examples:
"Let's be honest...The best hockey is behind Palmieri, Pageau, Lee, Pelech, Pulock, and probably Nelson. That's very bad when those are the guys who should be making up your top forwards and defense pairs. Other than Nelson it will be hard to trade any of those players and get anything of value...At a time when the Isles are despreate to get younger, faster, and more skilled."
"I don't know about Pelech and Pulock. They seem more like the type that would need to be swapped in a change of scenery scenario because there can't be any salary retention with them since their deals are too long."
"Why the heck would the Leafs trade Nylander, whom they just signed to a mega deal) for Pelech or Pulock?? The Islanders are dealing from a position of weakness in all these matters and probably the only players they can get their hands on are players on similarly or even worse deals, think Huberdeau or Kotkaniemi."
"I would rather move Pelech but I am trying to be realistic in the sense that you won't be getting a game breaking talent for Pelech. Pulock is solid but he is not a game breaking talent. Even in the "dream" scenario I outlined it still needs the isles to make low cost high upside pickups."
"How in the world are you trading a fading Pelech, and his 5.75M cap hit through 2029, for anything of value - Much less anything near the talent of Ehlers?
*You're not. We're stuck with Pelech."
"Totally agree on discussion.
My take on Pelech/Pulock is less about the players (although Pulock has become incredibly average and Pelech is like half the player he used to be), and more about their contracts. Both are around 6M a year until 2029 and 2030 respectively. That's horrible for trade value and why I think they don't have any.
I mean if you're the Islanders and you even had 20+ million in cap space, why would you use up 6M of it for the next 6 years on an average defenseman who, in both cases, the skills will only erode during the remainder of the contracts?
You wouldn't...And that's the point as all teams will think this way.
When you can find someone like Mike Reilly off the scrap heap for nothing - Both in terms of assets given up and cap space taken up, then there's no way Pelech and Pulock have value."
"It is quite hard to gauge Pulock and Pelechs trade value due to their deals. Six more years is a long, long time, yet at the same time they'd easily get that if they were UFAs this offseason. I believe they can both be traded but it would be hugely complicated deals with lots of moving parts, unless the Isles are taking a similar contracts back straight up.
But, the problem with all the extensions Lou signed is not just term itself but the NMCs and NTCs that come with them. Unless they are going to a contender, why would these players even consider going elsewhere?"
"Rielly looks great but he is also getting much easier minutes. Pulock is averaging 25 minutes per game. Pelech 22 minutes. Rielly is not even at 19 minutes per game. If Mike Rielly was a top four defenseman he would not have ever been placed on waivers.
Pulock is a step above Pelech and three steps about Rielly to me.
Oh I agree...And if Pulock only had 2 years left on his deal as opposed to 6 then I'd agree he'd have some decent trade value.
Alas he is signed until 2030 (with an NTC that kicks in the last 3 years of a deal meaning any acquiring team will have even a harder time dumping his contract if his play falls off later), so when you take into account Pulock's financial/contract situation that really mitigates any real value he has.
And Pelech's situation is even worse as his 16-team NTC kicks in July 1, 2025 (when he still has 4 years left on his deal).
We're all out in the cheap seats proposing this move or that move that the Isles should do, but the reality of the situation is that Lou has boxed this team in a corner today and it's going to take literal years to undo the damage he's done."
"Pelech's contract is unfortunately quite underwater right now and NYI shouldn't be dealing draft picks (which would surely need to be a 1st rounder at least) to dump Pelech. It's part of why retooling this team is going to be so difficult for a while.
Best thing NYI can hope for is that Roy is able to figure out why he's underperforming. If it's physical, how can we recover to get back where he was a few years ago. If it's mental, then that's easier and the coaching staff can work on that. He's still only 29, so should have 3-5 more full prime years left. Not too long ago he was one of the top shut down d-men in the entire league. Too early to say he's washed up based on a couple of down years."