Confirmed with Link: Weekesbomb: Palat to NJ for five-year deal

[Stammertime91]

Not my place to posture but to give some affirmation he's not just some Clarkson level drop off waiting to happen.... he's been a mainstay on our top line every deep run we had. Timely goals, hits, does it all type of player. Then when you need him to step up, he's there. He's proven it. Yeah he had one of the best playmakers with him but Palat is smart enough to read the seams and get open.

If he's put with highly skilled players, he will as our board put it years ago, be the one that stirs the drink. We've never seen him give up effort wise. A lot of us STILL want him back. You took our only legit top 6 winger not named Kucherov. Take comfort in getting a very good player. Hope he bodes well, just not against us please.

 

[Hisch13r]

Do people not get the Devils were going to have to throw some caution to the wind eventually? Either by trading assets or handing out a money/term contract that people aren't comfortable with? They weren't going to improve the team simply by having fifteen guys on ELC's within and never giving out a big contract, it's not realistic.

“We have to do something so it doesn’t matter if it shitty or not”

 

[Bcap88]

 

[Jets012]

I mean there's a chance Johnny put us into this position by going rogue and taking the Columbus offer.

Not entirely surprised Palat's price was that high either. He's got the game and makeup that GMs love. Winning pedigree, great fit on most teams, easy to play with, uses his size, etc.

Just got to hope he ages well

 

[Unknown Caller]

Price is a bit high but these are precisely the kind of players we need to sprinkle throughout the lineup. Rather spend 11 on two Palat's than one Johnny.

Of course. This is a Lamoriello deal.

 

[Zippy316]

You shouldn’t be using those extra savings on average top 6 players.

Maybe so, but at a certain point, leaving that spot empty is just as harmful as filling it with an overpaid Palat. Arguably moreso.

This team hasn’t had a player that can make the game easier for his linemates since Zajac who was on his last legs. They need this and desperately missed it last year.

 

[Blackjack]

You can’t classify it as that because we were rumored in on him last night. He was always plan B and so was this deal.

Not at this price. You walk away at 4 x $5. Probably even before that.

Fitz is not up to this job. He’s just not.

 

[Devils090]

Said it earlier, GM’s would be blinded but his playoff heroics. Palat being a 40 point guy but scoring clutch goals on the way to the Finals is great and all. When he’s just scoring 40 on a non playoff team at 6mil a year and creeping up on 35 years old, nightmare scenario.

 

[Hisch13r]

I’d rather the Devils sign a helpful free agent to a mediocre contract than trade for a player and then also have to sign them to a mediocre contract.

Or here’s a thought. You simply do neither of those things.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

And she's proven she knows what she's talking about with player profiles and rosters fwiw.

 

[NJDevs26]

Yeah I am just not a fan of this contract.

6mil a year for a 15 goals 40-45pt player with term is... yeah, kinda feels like the 'we missed out on Gaudreau so f*** it lets do this' deal.

Really would have preferred keeping my 6m and looking toward a trade. Paying players second line money who you expect to be on your third line playing third line minutes when things go well is..

Meh whatever, the contract wont be an issue (but it certainly will be attached to a pick come 2026). I like the player too. Hopefully he helps the kids begin to settle down in the ozone.

What do we even have to trade that's worthwhile that people would be willing to trade? Assuming Luke and Mercer and Nemec at this point are pretty well off limits. An unprotected 2023 1st and Holtz? Unless it's for a signed Thachuk, that's more reckless than giving a guy a year and a million or so too much in FA.

 

[Hisch13r]

So Dom barely has him being just under barely that contract right now with him being in one of the best situations in the league as a passenger to superstars. Better hope Jack can help prop him up or this gets ugly fast

 

[BurntToast]

And if we do make it to the Playoffs, he is just a different animal.

 

[Unknown Caller]

This should be fun.

 

[BananaGenetics]

It's fine to be concerned.

"THIS IS THE WORST CONTRACT EVER FITZ SUCKS THE OFFSEASON IS A FAILURE!"

is way WAY past that

If we were a contending team or in our same spot now but insert a bad contract in place of a Mercer, then yeah this deal would be a serious blunder.

But were not. Luke Nemec Holtz Etc are all 3 years away from needing deals, Mercer will come in cheap and Severson if he stays.. hell I bet he gets 6m too.

It can easily be moved with a 2nd with two years left, because I think hell still serve a decent bottom-6 role then so a contending team could see value in him. Maybe a 2nd+3rd idk, not important.

I do appreciate his physicality and veteran leadership. And Id have given him four years at 5m, so its only a tick up in each category.

Id have been more okay with offering Evan Rodrigues the same term, if you felt strongly about a stable contract for the team past two years. 4-5 years around 4.5mil Id guess.

Definitely is one of Fitzgerald's only real question marks IMO. But again, nothing that makes me question him (like taking Nemec over Wright).

 

[Stammertime91]

How do you see his game aging?

Personally I don't see him slowing down for at least a few years. He's not the fastest but he's not slow either. Never been an issue really. Keep in mind his games played takes a hit because of how he plays but it's usually a nagging something or another mid season and he's good to go. I think earlier in his career he had a stretch of 20ish games missed. Played 77 this year and with all the hockey the last few seasons, he hasn't aged a bit.

I would've moved Killorn, Foote and whatever else to have kept him. I like him a lot.

 

[Killing Joke]

This is a terrible terrible contract that is gonna suck really quickly.

We let burakovksy slip through our fingers by being too focused on Gaudreau. Would’ve been a better contract for a better player.

Clear panic move

 

[NJDevs26]

And she's proven she knows what she's talking about with player profiles and rosters fwiw.

I didn't think she was still a fan tbh but I guess it's in the blood.

 

[NjDevsRR]

A lot of people do not understand how solid of a player he is. I foresee three very very strong seasons ahead that will help our young forwards a lot. Also, if he plays with Jack then I wouldn’t be surprised if he puts up career highs, he’s smart enough to keep up and go where he is neeeed to go. And will also cover him defensively. Or he will play with Nico on a dominant shutdown line.

Years 4 and 5, sure, may be a big decline. We’ll get to that spot and deal with it, it won’t cause
Us issues in our cap. But for now, we have a good player that will help NOW.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Honestly I can’t remember disliking a contract the Devils gave out this much maybe ever?

It’s a ridiculous AAV and term to an aging middle six forward because he scored some clutch goals surrounded by hall of famers.

What’s ridiculous is calling him a middle 6 forward

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Said it earlier, GM’s would be blinded but his playoff heroics. Palat being a 40 point guy but scoring clutch goals on the way to the Finals is great and all. When he’s just scoring 40 on a non playoff team at 6mil a year and creeping up on 35 years old, nightmare scenario.

A nightmare that is quickly ended by trading the player and attaching some sweetener if need be.

 

[SKNJD9]

Tampa board really bummed out about it that gives me some solace but overall I like the deal, yes its a yr too long and 1m too expensive but as we've seen in this league someone will always bail you out if you get to that point.

Unless you're chuck fletcher, all my homies hate chuck fletcher

 

[Oneiro]

I do think we "needed" this kind of player but at this age, hit and term, it is very much the classic dumbass GM summer move.

 

[BananaGenetics]

What do we even have to trade that's worthwhile that people would be willing to trade? Assuming Luke and Mercer and Nemec at this point are pretty well off limits. An unprotected 2023 1st and Holtz? Unless it's for a signed Thachuk, that's more reckless than giving a guy a year and a million or so too much in FA.

I dont have Mercer off limits. In fact I think Holtz is more valuable to us and Mercer is more valuable to others.

Theres a bunch of names but you never know if they're truly available. A Tkachuk trade cant be counted on, some 15 teams wanna make that trade.

Id just have kept the cap for an eventual trade, vecause if we didnt sign Palat Id assume Fitzgerald would have been chomping at the bit all season.

 

[NJDevs26]

This is a terrible terrible contract that is gonna suck really quickly.

We let burakovksy slip through our fingers by being too focused on Gaudreau. Would’ve been a better contract for a better player.

Clear panic move

Which is a fairer criticism but philosophy-wise I'd rather swing big in FA and worry about plan B later, you could definitely make the bird in hand argument though.