Rather than go long term for a player of whom they think a lot, the Islanders were able to sign restricted free-agent defenseman Ryan Pulock to a two-year bridge deal on Tuesday, the cost of which was not immediately available. Earlier this summer, Pulock was extended a qualifying offer of $874,125.
The franchise has long believed the 23-year-old Pulock was going to be a staple of its blue line for years to come. But with the franchise in flux after the departure of captain John Tavares, new team president Lou Lamoriello opted to keep his books a little more flexible rather than trying to sign Pulock to a long-term extension.