The New York Islanders just need to make the playoffs to release the best of Ondrej Palat

The New Jersey Devils shocked everyone in 2022 when they missed out on signing Johnny Gaudreau and instead signed Ondrej Palat. It seemed like a wild overreaction, losing the best free agent and going right into the riskiest contract of that offseason. The Devils gave Palat, who was a great contributor on two Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup teams, $6 million per season. Back in 2022, that was a huge contract.

He never really lived up to that deal in Jersey, and it seemed like he was primed for a buyout. It was one of Tom Fitzgerald’s worst moves, which led to his firing. However, before he was let go by the Devils, Fitzgerald made a move with the New York Islanders involving Palat.

The Devils traded Palat, a third-round pick, and a sixth-round pick for Maxim Tsyplakov. It seems like the Islanders did this for the draft picks and to get out of Tsyplakov’s contract, which looked like its own massive mistake. However, now they are sitting here with a $6 million anchor on the books.

Many thought Islanders GM Matthew Darche would buy Palat out, taking a smaller hit in the long term just to get out of the deal now. Palat only has one more year left on his deal, so the buyout wouldn’t be that painful. 

Now that we know that Palat is an Islander this season, it’s time to find where he makes the most sense in this lineup.

So, where does Ondrej Palat fit with the Islanders?

Palat himself is definitely a bottom-six contributor at this point in his career. The Devils tried to make him work with Jack Hughes (why?), but it’s clear he should be a defensively responsible forward who can luck his way into 15 goals.

With the Devils, he still had great instincts. He knows where he is supposed to be, and it’s led to offensive-zone takeaways. He has been able to set up Hughes and Jesper Bratt in big moments, but those moments are fewer and further between. That’s because he’s rapidly losing a step in his process, so his brain is not keeping up with the level of player he is in 2026. 

Speaking of level, Palat has always been a player who takes a step forward in the playoffs. He did it in New Jersey, and he especially did it in Tampa before that. It’s been four years since the last Stanley Cup Final appearance by Tampa, but seeing Palat continue that progress in Jersey shows he might just be a playoff guy.

We’ve seen these players before. Heck, the Islanders have been familiar with them. Josh Bailey and Anthony Beauvillier are two names who come to mind.

Palat had seven points in 2023 when the Devils beat the Rangers in the first round. He was actually pivotal in Game 7 with the Devils’ season on the line. Even in their Carolina Hurricanes’ series, where the Devils were massively overmatched with half their roster injured, he was at least decent.

If the Islanders make the playoffs, they will see the best of Palat. The problem is he probably won’t help them make it there. 

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