Confirmed Signing with Link: [NJD] F Ondrej Palat signs with the Devils (5 years, $6M AAV)

[kanucks25]

I guess I'll be in the minority here and say I don't think it's that bad.

6M for a perennial all-around 2nd liner sounds about fair. Yes he's played with elite players but not anyone has the ability to keep up with elite players, Palat has the IQ and skill to hang.

1 year and 1 million too much is the basically the name of the game when it comes to free agency. If you want a free good player, you're probably going to have to undercut the value a bit with the contract.

Palat is a respected player around the league with pedigree, the championship "intangibles" likely matter here to the Devils organization in its current state given the youth and inexperience.

Yeah the last couple years might get rough as he loses a step but it won't be impossible to move. If you lose a 2nd or 3rd or something 4-6 years down the road who really cares at that point, his contributions will outweigh that by far. If in 4 years NJD is in such a position that they need to dump him to make room for an upgrade it's probably a good sign for the team. Not to mention they have a pretty clean looking cap going forward - the only other players signed for more than 2 years are Hughes, Hamilton, Hischier.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

devils get an amazing player. Fans seems to be taking out their frustration with not get Johnny on this Palat signing. He is a player who can do it all. A hardworking, experienced, two-way player that knows what it takes to win.

Devils fans are going to love this guy I promise.

 

[bleedgreen]

This is a good signing for them. A vet to play with their two stud young centers, plays both ways and understands winning. Worth paying an extra year.

 

[2020 Cup Champions]

This one hurts. Should have moved Killorn and not paid Namestnikov so much. Maybe we still couldn't do that, IDK.

 

[FinnLightning26]

Good for Pally to get that money. He's definitely earned it.

Don't get too down on him during the regular season, Devils fans. It's the playoffs where his true value comes through.

 

[Zalos]

Why is Palat leaving a team that is almost a sure-fire Cup contender for more years to come and going to a team that has issues making the playoffs?

If you tell me it's money, then I'd tell you I'd rather make a bit less money and have a great shot at even more Cups. There's extra money to be made there too.

 

[Mikeshane]

Seems like a good fit for NJ.

 

[OurlordAndSaviorKuch]

Goodbyes hurt, I don’t blame Palat for cashing in. He gave his all here and I got nothing but love for him and wish him the best.

 

[TheStatican]

He said family was the main reason he wasn’t going back to Calgary and he signed for a team that’s an 8 hour drive from home for a lot less money than Calgary offered yeah so not really hard to connect the dots here.

Wut?

And exactly would he drive?

Columbus is little more than an hour flight home. Calgary doesn't even have a direct flight to anywhere near home and even if it did it would be a 4+ hours. As is his best options were 7 hour connecting flights, not to mention not having to clear through customs anymore, pretty sure he wasn't lying about rather not having to deal with that hassle.

 

[DarrylshutzSydor]

Why is Palat leaving a team that is almost a sure-fire Cup contender for more years to come and going to a team that has issues making the playoffs?

If you tell me it's money, then I'd tell you I'd rather make a bit less money and have a great shot at even more Cups. There's extra money to be made there too.

Players don't make much more for winning the cup. That being said, consider yourself lucky you didn't get Johnny Roller Hockey. Palat will teach you to win.....and he gets a house out in Hackensack!

 

[KingsFan7824]

Why is Palat leaving a team that is almost a sure-fire Cup contender for more years to come and going to a team that has issues making the playoffs?

If you tell me it's money, then I'd tell you I'd rather make a bit less money and have a great shot at even more Cups. There's extra money to be made there too.

TB would have to get rid of other people to re-sign him. Maybe they didn't want to, so he didn't even have a real chance of taking less to stay. They handed out a bunch of thank you for the Cup 8 year deals, but they were to 24 year olds. Palat is 31.

The cap comes calling for everyone eventually. There is no escape.

 

[RANDOMH3RO]

I’ve wanted palat for a long time. I think he’ll look great next to Hischier, help us play more in the zone compared to off the rush. People are down on this because they can’t get out of their heads over JG. We have our own version of him on the rise in Bratt. Palat makes us better next year and brings experience to a very immature team who can have some very low lows. I like it

 

[saintunspecified]

Frankly, I don't think JG made sense for the devs anyway. This is too much, like all UFA signings, but it serves a need.

 

[Voight]

Another big loss for TB.

Been a rough few weeks for them.

All good things come to an end. Knowing them, they've already drafted his replacement and the kid will fill in nicely

 

[Wanderson]

This contact gives me Andrew Ladd, Milan Lucic and Loui Eriksson vibes.

Nostalgia!

 

[Torts]

I like it as a Devils fan after the debacle and craziness that transpired yesterday.

 

[pld459666]

As a hockey fan, I like this for the Devils.

Gives them a good veteran that has been both a key contributor to a multi time SC champ and supporting player when the team got better with Point and Kuch.

This is a great signing for the Devils.

 

[Luck 6]

This seems pretty dangerous to me. I agree Palat is a good player, but he’ll be 31/32 in year one of this deal. He could regress as early as next season, making this contract a huge dead weight for a team trying to take the next step. This seems like a desperation move with too much risk.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

So the Devils gave $6m per year for 5 years to a 31 year old 15 goal 45 point player for his great play off performance. That’s considering the Devils won’t make play offs

Devils are in much better organizational shape than CBJ. Maybe sit this one out

 

[Chrysalis99]

Palat is a great signing for the Devils. I'm jealous. He's been a major contributor for TB and they are going to miss him. I hate the current cap limit.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

I wanted him on the Pens but…good lord that’s a lot for a 31 year old who has put up seasons of 0.63, 0.84, 0.59, 0.53, and 0.63 in the last five years while playing beside Stamkos and Kucherov.

Jack Hughes literally played at 90 point pace at 20 years old. Nico 70 point pace at 22/23 He’s going to play with fantastic centers here

 

[cavs]

People keep saying this, but things change in a moments notice, and in a cap world one bad contract can be the difference between winning the cup or not. The Avs went from bottom of the basement to winning the cup in 5 years. Rangers went from picking 1st and 2nd in consecutive years to being a cup contender and cap crunch.

Rangers “won” both of those draft picks. They were awful but not that bad to be picking 1st and 2nd.

 

[JoVel]

6m is a bit more than you'd want but whatever. 5 years could be worrying for a 31 year old who doesn't exactly have the healthiest of careers. I wouldn't be too surprised if Palat had a big drop in only 2 years time.

 

[LeafsandSharksfan]

Deal seems pretty reasonable for me, a team with playoff aspirations adds a piece to assist the young stars. I do wonder if the Devils will be good enough quickly enough to get the most out of this.

 

[Curufinwe]

Why is Palat leaving a team that is almost a sure-fire Cup contender for more years to come and going to a team that has issues making the playoffs?

If you tell me it's money, then I'd tell you I'd rather make a bit less money and have a great shot at even more Cups. There's extra money to be made there too.

Tampa have no cap left. He’d have to have taken the 1 x 2.5m deal they have Namenstikov.

I like this deal for NJ. He should be a good fit with their young centers.

6m is a bit more than you'd want but whatever. 5 years could be worrying for a 31 year old who doesn't exactly have the healthiest of careers. I wouldn't be too surprised if Palat had a big drop in only 2 years time.

He’s only missed 6 games in the last 3 seasons