Islanders Season Preview: Defense & Goalies

After previewing the Islanders forward corps, NewYorkIslanders.com turns its attention to the team's defense and goaltending as the team begins the 2018-19 season.
After surrendering a league-high 293 goals last season, the Islanders commitment to improving their defensive game is a top priority heading into the 2018-19 season.
The personnel from last year is the largely the same, with Johnny Boychuk, Thomas Hickey, Nick Leddy, Scott Mayfield, Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock returning, but the Islanders approach to defense has drastically shifted under new Head Coach Barry Trotz.

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"We can't be any worse defensively, so we can solve a lot of things by playing a 200-foot game and working our butts off," Trotz said. "It's no secret defense is a pride thing, it's work and it's detail and it's wanting to get the puck back as quick as possible."
Trotz is implementing a tighter defensive structure team wide, meaning the forwards will have to be defensively responsible as well. The coach said it won't happen overnight, but the team is receptive to his new system and a commitment to defense should help the Isles reverse last year's trend.

PULOCK POISED FOR BIG YEAR WITH PELECH:

Ryan Pulock started to show what he's capable of with 10 goals and 32 points in last season's breakout rookie campaign. The 2013 first-round pick led all rookie defensemen in goals and is looking to build off of that momentum in 2018-19.
Confidence has been key to Pulock's success with the Isles. After years of fighting to crack the Islanders roster, Pulock has firmly entrenched himself as a key piece of the blue line and is looking to expand his role this season rather than fight for one.
"I was a fairly high pick, so they're picking me and expecting me to be that guy," Pulock added. "This is my time to take that. I've been in the organization for four years now, so it's at the time where I have to grab the reins on that and take it. I feel like I can do that. I think it's going to be in my hands to perform."
Pulock is gifted with a monster shot - earning the nickname "Rocket" from Barry Trotz - and it was on display during the preseason, scoring a team-high five goals in five games.
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"I think he's got 'top-pairing defenseman' written all over him," Hickey, Pulock's partner last season, said. "It's been a process and you can see the learning curve and how much better he got over the last 40 games of last year. If he continues that trend he's going to be one of our best players."
Pulock was paired with Adam Pelech in three preseason games and that appears to be Trotz's preference to start the season. Trotz said he thought the Pelech-Pulock combination was the Islanders best last year when he coached against the team. Pelech's steady, stay-at-home style meshes well with the offensively-inclined Pulock.
"They're good defenders," Trotz said. "Pelly has a really good stick, he's a big body. The one thing I didn't realize is he's actually got really good hands for a big man, so that surprised me a little bit. You don't see the guy day in and day out. Ryan just keeps growing… They've sort of grown from being together, playing together and they're both young guys, so they've naturally grown as hockey players."
If Pulock sees more responsibility this season, so will Pelech, as he continues to grow. Pelech had 19 points (3G, 16A) in 78 games last year.

NICK LEDDY:

Nick Leddy has been the go-to guy on the Islanders blue line over the past three seasons. He has played the most games (242), has the most goals (26), assists (102) and points (128) of any Islanders defenseman over that span. Leddy quarterbacks the top power play and has averaged the most ice time (22:35) on the back end.
Leddy has reached 40 points in each of the past three seasons and is the best skater on the blue line. Despite being a left-handed shot, Leddy has played the right side off and on during 2018 Training Camp and was most recently paired with Thomas Hickey and Luca Sbisa in preseason action, signaling he's unlikely to start alongside usual running mate Johnny Boychuk.

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JOHNNY BOYCHUK, THOMAS HICKEY, SCOTT MAYFIELD:

Johnny Boychuk is healthy and ready to go after an offseason surgery to clear up a nagging issue that persisted - and caused him to miss time - during the 2017-18 season.
At 34, Boychuk is the oldest Islander on the team, but still brings a physical, throwback style of the Isles back end and boasts a canon of a shot. Boychuk has played alongside Pulock on the second power-play unit during training camp, giving the Islanders a pair of heavy shots from the point.
Thomas Hickey returns to the Islanders on a new four-year contract and enters his seventh season with the club. Hickey posted a career-high 25 points last season and is a smart, poised player on the blue line.
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Hickey had been paired with Ryan Pulock for most of last season, but appears to be destined for a new partner this season as Pulock and Pelech have become a duo. Hickey was paired with Leddy at Wednesday's practice.
Scott Mayfield also brings some grittiness to the Islanders blue line, as he's willing to clear the front of the net and step up for his teammates. Mayfield inked a five-year extension with the Islanders last season.
Boychuk, Hickey and Mayfield all averaged at least 1.6 blocks per game last season. Boychuk was second on the team with 112 in 58 games, while Hickey had 110 in 69 games.

LUCA SBISA:

Luca Sbisa wasn't assured of anything when he signed a professional tryout (PTO) with the Islanders, but made a good impression on Trotz and General Manager Lou Lamoriello at camp. Sbisa signed a one-year deal on Sept. 24.
Sbisa is a veteran of 495 games with Philadelphia, Anaheim, Vancouver and Vegas and played in the Stanley Cup Final last season. Trotz said Sbisa brings valuable experience on the back end.

THE GOALIES:

The Islanders are going with a Robin Lehner-Thomas Greiss tandem in goal this season, as Jaroslav Halak signed with the Boston Bruins in free agency.
Lehner signed a one-year deal with the Isles over the summer, joining the team after playing the past three seasons in Buffalo. Lehner is eyeing a fresh start of sorts, looking to bounce back after a down season with the Sabres in 2017-18. His save percentage was .920 or higher in his first two seasons in Buffalo and he's confident that a new approach to goaltending - under the tutelage of Mitch Korn and Piero Greco - will pay dividends.
"The best thing about it is that I'm getting better every day," Lehner said "There's been a lot of adjustments… [The goalie coaches] are so good at what they do. They work on a lot of details, they've worked on my efficiency and how I play the game. It's a lot of changes and it'll take some time getting used to."

Greiss is also looking to bounce back from his 2017-18 campaign as he enters his fourth season with the Islanders. Greiss' save percentage dipped to .892 last season after two winning and productive seasons.
Greiss had a solid camp - winning both full preseason games he played - and is also making adjustments under Korn and Greco.
"I'm trying to stay a little tighter in net," Greiss said. "Little adjustments here and there and we'll be growing through the year with these guys."
Who exactly are Korn and Greco? Korn is the Isles new Director of Goaltending - and longtime partner of Trotz - who has worked with past Vezina Trophy winners Dominik Hasek and Braden Holtby. Greco is the Goaltending Coach who comes to the Islanders fresh off a Calder Cup win with the AHL's Toronto Marlies. Both figure to help elevate the Islanders netminders.
Trotz did not reveal his opening night starter, or who he considers to be the number one goalie between the two, but is giving Lehner and Greiss an opportunity to seize it.
"They've both played pretty well," Trotz said. "There's not much separating both of them. They both have their good qualities that make them special, so they're the ones that will figure it out."