The New York Islanders are making moves - and they just added a two-time Stanley Cup champion to the mix. On Tuesday night, the New Jersey Devils scratched veteran winger Ondrej Palat from the lineup, and not long after, the reason became clear: Palat is headed to Long Island.
Why the Islanders made the move
The Islanders are in the thick of a playoff chase, and they’ve been looking for a steady, experienced presence to help stabilize their forward group. Enter Palat - a battle-tested winger with nearly 900 NHL games under his belt and a reputation for showing up when it matters most.
This isn’t just a rental, either. Palat is in the fourth year of a five-year, $30 million deal, which means the Islanders get him for the rest of this season and next. That extra year of control adds value, especially for a team trying to build consistency around its core.
Now, let’s be clear: Palat isn’t lighting up the scoresheet this year. In 51 games with the Devils, he’s posted just four goals and six assists.
But this move isn’t about the stat sheet - it’s about the intangibles. Leadership.
Playoff pedigree. Knowing how to win.
Palat brings all of that in spades. He’s been through the grind of deep playoff runs, playing a key role in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s back-to-back Stanley Cup wins. In fact, 423 of his 515 career points came during his 10-season run with Tampa, where he built a reputation as a reliable two-way forward who could be trusted in any situation.
Yes, his production has dipped since joining the Devils, but the Islanders are betting that in the right system - and with a little postseason urgency - Palat still has something left in the tank.
What the Devils got in return
In exchange, New Jersey gets 27-year-old Russian winger Maxim Tsyplakov and a couple of late-round draft picks. Tsyplakov has struggled to find his footing this season, with just one goal and one assist in 27 games. But this is a classic buy-low move for the Devils - a chance to take a flier on a player who might benefit from a change of scenery.
For New Jersey, this trade is about clearing cap space, getting younger, and hoping they can unlock something in Tsyplakov that hasn’t clicked yet. He’s got size and some scoring touch from his days in Russia, but it hasn’t translated at the NHL level so far.
Bottom line
For the Islanders, this is a calculated push for the postseason. Palat isn’t going to carry the offense, but he doesn’t have to. What he brings is playoff experience, defensive responsibility, and the kind of leadership that can help tip a tight series.
For the Devils, it’s about moving on from a veteran who no longer fit their timeline and taking a low-risk swing on a younger player with upside.
It’s not a blockbuster, but it’s the kind of trade that could quietly pay off - especially if Palat finds his playoff form when the games start to really matter.