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NY Islanders F Ondrej Palat is making his critics look foolish so far this season

ByJiggs Westfall
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Toronto Maple Leafs play the New York Islanders
Toronto Maple Leafs play the New York Islanders | Steve Russell/GettyImages

There weren't many New York Islanders fans excited about having Ondrej Palat back this season. In fact, plenty were hoping they'd never see him wearing blue and orange again.

And really, could you blame them?

When Mathieu Darche acquired the two-time Stanley Cup champion from New Jersey in February, Devils fans practically celebrated getting his $6 million cap hit off the books. Palat looked finished, a shell of the player who had been so valuable during Tampa Bay's championship runs.

Somehow, things got worse on Long Island.

After scoring in his Islanders debut, Palat never scored again. He looked slow, ineffective, and incapable of contributing much of anything. There were legitimate arguments for buying him out over the summer, even if it meant carrying dead money against the salary cap.

Palat
Oct 10, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Charle-Edouard D'Astous (51) and New York Islanders left wing Ondrej Palat (81) battle for control of the puck in the first period against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Darche resisted. Perhaps his familiarity with Palat from Tampa Bay convinced him there was still something left. Eight games into this season, that patience is paying off.

No, Palat isn't lighting up the scoresheet. He has just one goal and one assist. But anyone watching the games can see he's been among the Islanders' most consistent forwards.

The numbers back it up, too.

Through eight games, Palat leads the Islanders with a remarkable 63.5% Corsi For percentage at even strength, nearly five points better than Matthew Schaefer.

In Saturday's 4-1 win over Toronto, the Islanders outshot the Maple Leafs 19-1 with Palat on the ice. It's become a familiar trend rather than an isolated occurrence.

"Right from training camp, he's been engaged. He wants more," said head coach Peter DeBoer after the game. "It's on me to give him a little bit more. He's been that good"

Palat has politely declined to reveal what he changed about his offseason preparation, but whatever he did, it's working. Nobody's suggesting he's suddenly worth $6 million again. And eight games don't erase last season's disaster.

But the player everyone wanted gone has quietly become someone Pete DeBoer can trust.

Who saw that coming? Let's see how long it can last.

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