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

[Brodeur]

I would've thought it looked worse in hindsight specifically because the Devils are now facing a 9 million or so extension for Meier

No I meant that criticizing the deal is easier in hindsight. With the team playing well, Palat's not really been a particular concern. I went to the game against Arizona a couple nights ago and the Palat-Haula-Boqvist line accounted for a couple goals. Having the depth is nice.

We'll deal with the cap crunch when it happens, but that's a couple years down the line.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

7 goals, 16 points in 30 games this season

1 goal, 2 assists in his last 10, playing less than 15 minutes per game

He'll be 32 in a few weeks, and is taking up 6 million in cap space through the 2027 season on a team that will soon be looking to re-sign Bratt, Meier, and Mercer to long term deals before the next waive of youngsters like Nemec and Holtz are due for theirs


I was very critical of the deal, and thought it was a shortsighted move for a team built for the long term

So, to those of you who applauded or defended this signing, do you still believe it was a good move by the Devils? Would you sign Palat to the same contract if he were a UFA today?

He's been very good for us. We were in a tailspin in December and then he returned. We went 3-7-2 in the games leading up to his return, then went 7-0-1 in the his first 8 games back in the lineup (and have gone 17-4-3 in total since his return).

He provides a key veteran depth and has allowed us to have 4 really strong, well balanced lines.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

7 goals, 16 points in 30 games this season

1 goal, 2 assists in his last 10, playing less than 15 minutes per game

He'll be 32 in a few weeks, and is taking up 6 million in cap space through the 2027 season on a team that will soon be looking to re-sign Bratt, Meier, and Mercer to long term deals before the next waive of youngsters like Nemec and Holtz are due for theirs


I was very critical of the deal, and thought it was a shortsighted move for a team built for the long term

So, to those of you who applauded or defended this signing, do you still believe it was a good move by the Devils? Would you sign Palat to the same contract if he were a UFA today?

Lol, great bump. Anyway, this guy is awesome and makes winning plays all over the ice. Very happy to have him in a leadership role as we head into the playoffs.



Funny you pick his last 10 as a period of poor play or something, when his line has been straight up dominating since it’s been put together.

 

[Oneiro]

If the cap increases modestly, it’s a problem. I don’t think there’s any NJ fan who would deny it is rich and a bit too long.

But it’s countered by 2-4 ELCs on the roster over the next two seasons. You’ll be replacing more expensive veterans with Nemec, Luke Hughes, Holtz and likely one more depth guy. The cap will jump eventually and likely before his deal is over.

And that’s not even mentioning the kind of player he is and his impact on the team.

 

[DanyHeatley]

yuck

 

[Devs3cups]

I’m fine with it especially with all the young guys on the roster and the ELC’s coming on soon. Palat brings a lot of experience, is physical and can slot in the top-6 easily if there’s an injury.

4 years after this one. Also saw a tweet recently saying that the contract is very “buyout-able” in the last 2 seasons if it has to, so there’s that.

 

[Zubrus Coffee Maker]

I love Palat but I’ve hated this deal since the day it was signed. He’s a very useful player but yikes those last few years are going to be rough

 

[HugeInTheShire]

His value goes far beyond the stat line.
In seasons past, if the Devils fell behind early, they folded up and inevitably lost the game, that isn't the case anymore. Palat is a big part of this change in mind set, he's a natural leader and would probably be a successful coach if he chooses to coach.

 

[My3Sons]

NJ will cheap out on a few bottom six players like McLeod and Bastian and Boquist to make up the overpayment on Palat. The team probably also skimps on a third pair right defender for a season or two until Nemec is ready. The nuclear option is to trade Sharangovich. Hard to see them totally botching this even if they sign Bratt and Meier to long term deals at close to $18 mil combined. Even if you want to say Palat should be paid about $4.5 mil or something along those lines, that's roughly $1.5 mil they are trying to make up. The contract was never ideal, but he's not a $2 mil per player, he's better than that.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Tough to give him a full grade missing half the year.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Miss him on the lightning

 

[Bleedred]

Trade this old f***in overpaid shit bag for Josh Anderson already.

I'm sure that won't be enough but good riddance.

 

[PK]

It’s way to early to make any judgment here. That said, I’m in a minority of those who wish we keep both Graves and Severson and without Palát it would possible. I’m not sure he’ll be more valuable than those two in the years to come.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

It’s way to early to make any judgment here. That said, I’m in a minority of those who wish we keep both Graves and Severson and without Palát it would possible. I’m not sure he’ll be more valuable than those two in the years to come.

If you think the 6 million they're paying Palat is enough for Severson and Graves, you're sorely mistaken. Severson is going to look for 6 a season and Graves likely comes in around 5.
If Graves is willing to sign a short term deal 2-3 years max at a reasonable rate he could stay. Severson wants that payday and NJ can't and shouldn't give it to him.

 

[PK]

If you think the 6 million they're paying Palat is enough for Severson and Graves, you're sorely mistaken. Severson is going to look for 6 a season and Graves likely comes in around 5.
If Graves is willing to sign a short term deal 2-3 years max at a reasonable rate he could stay. Severson wants that payday and NJ can't and shouldn't give it to him.

That’s not what I said.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

That’s not what I said.

I see, ya I understand what you're saying now. I still think they could keep one, preferably Graves but Severson has got to go. His comments earlier in the season about playing time makes it pretty obvious he's looking to move on.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Like the player, not the contract. Expect it to age poorly and has a risk of becoming an albatross.

I stand by this, although now that it's clear the Devils are cup contenders this year I'm fine with it. The problem will be the tail end, and will have ramifications as NJ tries to figure out what 2nd contracts look like for Mercer, L.Hughes, Nemec, and maybe Holtz though he's looking like an obvious short term extension.

This year he's been a nice addition for sure, and he's played Sharangovich out of the lineup at the moment which I wouldn't have expected, he's got skills the team needed and that's why they paid up for him.

 

[My3Sons]

I stand by this, although now that it's clear the Devils are cup contenders this year I'm fine with it. The problem will be the tail end, and will have ramifications as NJ tries to figure out what 2nd contracts look like for Mercer, L.Hughes, Nemec, and maybe Holtz though he's looking like an obvious short term extension.

This year he's been a nice addition for sure, and he's played Sharangovich out of the lineup at the moment which I wouldn't have expected, he's got skills the team needed and that's why they paid up for him.

The Palat contract can be bought out in three more years with minimal impact. Signing Mercer maybe comes down to moving Sharangovich. If Bratt continues to be stubborn the cap won’t be an issue.

 

[Neutrinos]

He's been very good for us. We were in a tailspin in December and then he returned. We went 3-7-2 in the games leading up to his return, then went 7-0-1 in the his first 8 games back in the lineup (and have gone 17-4-3 in total since his return).

He provides a key veteran depth and has allowed us to have 4 really strong, well balanced lines.

But the Devils also went on their unbeaten streak without him in the lineup, so...

 

[Neutrinos]

NJ will cheap out on a few bottom six players like McLeod and Bastian and Boquist to make up the overpayment on Palat. The team probably also skimps on a third pair right defender for a season or two until Nemec is ready. The nuclear option is to trade Sharangovich. Hard to see them totally botching this even if they sign Bratt and Meier to long term deals at close to $18 mil combined. Even if you want to say Palat should be paid about $4.5 mil or something along those lines, that's roughly $1.5 mil they are trying to make up. The contract was never ideal, but he's not a $2 mil per player, he's better than that.

Even at 4.5 million per, I'd have had no interest in signing Palat to a long term deal

Signing a middle 6 winger to a long term deal as they exit their prime almost never benefits anyone but the player

There are exceptions to the rule, of course, but I don't believe Palat is the type of player worth gambling on

IMO, his contract will soon be looked at much like the ones that were given to players like Lucic, Eriksson, Ladd, Neal, Gallagher, Palmieri, Bailey, Hornqvist, JVR, Little, Atkinson, Marleau, etc. etc. etc.

He's essentially a 3rd liner with a 6 million cap hit through the '27 season

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

But the Devils also went on their unbeaten streak without him in the lineup, so...

Yeah it's nice that we've got a great team. Palat makes us that much better. He's a very important part of this team and would sign him to that contract all day long.

 

[My3Sons]

Even at 4.5 million per, I'd have had no interest in signing Palat to a long term deal

Signing a middle 6 winger to a long term deal as they exit their prime almost never benefits anyone but the player

There are exceptions to the rule, of course, but I don't believe Palat is the type of player worth gambling on

IMO, his contract will soon be looked at much like the ones that were given to players like Lucic, Eriksson, Ladd, Neal, Gallagher, Palmieri, Bailey, Hornqvist, JVR, Little, Atkinson, Marleau, etc. etc. etc.

He's essentially a 3rd liner with a 6 million cap hit through the '27 season

His contract is a four year deal if they want it to be. The first year is almost over. Next season his cap hit won’t matter. Years three and four it can be bad. I agree it’s too long and for too much but it isn’t close to those other deals where guys were counted on to be main cogs. If Palat can be a middle six player for three years after this one it’s fine. Presumably the cap will start to go up a bit also. No one contract is crippling its when you start loading up on older less skilled guys like Vancouver or Calgary or SJ.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

Like Brodeur said - it's easy in hindsight of the Meier trade. I guess you could argue this would have come up with other future trade / FA signing.

He's overpaid and signed for too long. But we're a better team with him. I won't have a problem with him until he starts bringing the team down.

 

[KovalchukFistPump]

They'll need to get rid of him when LHughes and Nemec are due for raises, but until then he's a very useful piece. Just will likely need to attach a 2nd to send him somewhere - especially since his M-NTC will limit it to 10 teams/year that he can be traded to.

 

[JT Kreider]

Plus he obliterated the Rangers in the two playoff series we played against Tampa