The NY Islanders make another deal with a rival, trading for Ondrej Palat from the NJ Devils

NY Islanders GM Mathieu Darche is hard at work ahead of the NHL's Olympics roster freeze, set to go into effect at 3 pm on February 4. After acquiring Carson Soucy from the NY Rangers last night for a third-round pick, the Islanders have made her dl th cos-ton rival, receiving Ondrej Palat, a 2026 third, and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the NJ Devils for Max Tsyplakov.

Palat, 34, signed a five-year contract with the Devils in 2022, with an AAV of $6M. With one more season remaining on his current deal, the Islanders will be taking on the entirety of his cap hit, as there will be no retention from the Devils.

The NY Islanders trade for Ondrej Palat

Through 51 games this season, Palat has tallied 10 points (4 G, 6A), but his value doesn't come from his offense; it comes from his experience. A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Palat hoisted The Cup with Mathieu Darche during his time as the Lightning Assistant GM.

Heading the other way, Tsyplakov never really found his footing with the Islanders in his second NHL season. Accruing just two points (1 G, 1 A) through 27 games this season, the Russian winger has struggled mightily after a 35-point (10 G, 25 A) rookie campaign.

Neither the Soucy nor Palat trade looks glorious in their own right, but together, Darche has brought in Soucy, Palat, a sixth-round pick, and likely a higher third-round pick, while giving up just Tsyplakov.

It might not be the move to put them over the edge, but you can't say the Islanders have gotten worse over the last two days.