The New Jersey Devils have recently decided to hold Ondrej Palat as a healthy scratch for their match against the Winnipeg Jets. This decision was made for ‘roster-related reasons’ as reported by Amanda Stein, a team reporter. Palat, 34 years old, has contributed only four goals and ten points across 51 games in the current season.
Ondrej Palat’s Contract and Performance
Palat, who serves as an alternate captain with the Devils, is under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season. His current deal includes an annual cap hit of $6 million. He joined the Devils as an unrestricted free agent in 2022 after achieving notable success with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Challenges in New Jersey
- Palat has struggled to perform consistently, with his highest point total being 31 in 71 games during his second season.
- He played in just 49 games in his debut season with the Devils.
- If traded, it’s likely to be a salary cap dump, especially considering his modified no-trade clause.
Under his current contract, Palat can submit a list of ten teams to which he would accept a trade. This clause complicates potential transactions. Many analysts believe Palat is currently overpaid and a trade might require additional incentives for another team to take on his contract.
Palat’s NHL Journey
The Czech winger was drafted by the Lightning in the seventh round (No. 208 overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft. He gained prominence in the AHL, winning the Calder Cup with the Norfolk Admirals in 2012. Palat quickly established himself as a solid NHL player, earning recognition in the Calder Trophy voting in 2014, where he finished second to Nathan MacKinnon.
Playoff Contributions
Throughout his career, Palat has played a significant role in keeping the Lightning competitive. He was part of the team that reached the Stanley Cup Final four times from 2015 to 2022 and excelled in crucial moments:
- Led the league in playoff power-play goals in 2015.
- Led the league in playoff even-strength goals in 2022.
In his 876 career games over parts of 14 NHL seasons, he has tallied 181 goals and 515 points. Additionally, he has scored 51 goals and gathered 103 points in 155 playoff appearances.
As the Devils move forward, it remains to be seen how they will handle Ondrej Palat’s situation amid roster dynamics and potential trade discussions.
