Ondrej Palat’s Time in New Jersey: A Promising Start Derailed by Injury and Unmet Expectations
When the New Jersey Devils signed Ondrej Palat, the hope was clear: bring in a proven playoff performer with championship pedigree to help guide a young, talented roster into contention. But just a few seasons later, the Devils have officially moved on-attaching two draft picks and absorbing the contract of Maxim Tsyplakov just to unload Palat’s $6 million salary to the New York Islanders. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that expected so much more.
Let’s rewind to how it all began.
Palat arrived in New Jersey fresh off three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final with Tampa Bay. That kind of experience is rare, and the Devils were banking on his leadership, two-way play, and knack for showing up in big moments.
But there’s a flip side to that kind of mileage. Deep playoff runs mean extra wear and tear-60-plus high-intensity games that most players never log.
That kind of grind catches up with even the most durable skaters.
And for Palat, it caught up fast.
Just a month into his Devils tenure, he tore his groin-an injury that would prove to be the turning point in his time with the team. Before the injury, he looked like the perfect fit.
He scored twice in just his fourth game, ironically against the Islanders, the team he now joins. He had three goals in his first six games.
The chemistry was forming, the production was there, and it looked like the Devils had made a savvy move.
But the injury changed everything.
Palat missed significant time and wasn’t the same when he returned. It took him nine games to find the back of the net again, and he finished the season with just eight goals.
For a player carrying a $6 million cap hit, that’s far from the impact the Devils needed. He did rebound somewhat in the playoffs, playing a key role in New Jersey’s first-round series win over the Rangers-a rare bright spot for the franchise in recent years.
His hockey IQ and leadership never disappeared, but the physical edge that had defined his game just wasn’t the same.
Over his four seasons in New Jersey, Palat never topped 15 goals-a far cry from the offensive consistency he showed earlier in his career. Since becoming a full-time NHL player in 2013-14, he’s had three seasons with 15 or fewer goals. All of those came with the Devils.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
The Devils needed more from Palat, especially as their young core began to blossom. The injury derailed what could’ve been a strong veteran presence on a team looking to take the next step. There were flashes-moments when Palat reminded everyone why he was so valuable in Tampa-but they were too few and too far between.
Now, with the trade to the Islanders, the Devils close the book on a signing that never lived up to its promise. It’s not the ending anyone envisioned, but sometimes that’s the reality in this league.
Injuries change careers. Expectations don’t always align with outcomes.
For Palat, a new chapter begins on Long Island. And for the Devils, the focus shifts to the future-one that no longer includes a player they once hoped would help lead them there.