Ondrej Palat Should No Longer Be an Every Night Player for the New Jersey Devils

Ondrej Palat’s contract has been maligned since the day he signed it with the New Jersey Devils. The five year, $30 million deal that was inked back in July of 2022 was never seen as a deal that would age well. It was a bit too much per season for a guy who had broken 60 points just once in his career. It was also seen as a deal taking up too much of the Devils’ cap space going forward for them to make other impactful moves in the seasons that would follow. While I’m glad to say the Devils have done alright regarding that last point, the money was definitely too much per season. As for how it’s aging?

I think saying that it aged like rotting milk would be too generous.

Palat’s first season in New Jersey I would deem passable, as he did contribute 23 points (0.47 points per game) in 49 games; the other 33 were missed mostly due to injury. While a 38 point pace for a $6 million wing isn’t fantastic, I’m willing to forgive a bit due to again the injury as well as the strong postseason performance that he turned in. Everything after that 2022-23 postseason, however, has been a steeper decline than most would’ve expected. 2023-24 saw Palat appear in 71 contests and record just 31 points (0.44 ppg) while last season he increased his games played to 77, but saw a drop again in production to just 28 points (0.36 pg) in those regular season contests. He did put up two assists in five playoff games, but didn’t really do much on the ice aside from that.

I think what’s most disappointing about Palat isn’t just his production, but how low it is when you consider who he’s frequently on a line with. He’s regularly been given ice time with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt for most of the last two seasons when he (and Bratt and/or Hughes) has been healthy. Considering the point totals they’ve put up, it’s concerning to see how little Palat has produced. IT’s to the point where I have referenced him as an anchor to both of those players at this point. Heck, Jack and/or Jesper might have eclipsed 100 points in a season of their respective careers if they had someone on their line who could put their passes into the net.

And now this season? If this isn’t rock bottom for him as an NHLer, I don’t know what is.

Through the first 23 contests of 2025-26, Palat has two whole points. That’s right, just one goal and one assist in 23 appearances. To give even more perspective on how bad that is, Brenden Dillon has outscored him. Cody Glass has played roughly half the number of games and has double the points Palat has. Ditto that for Paul Cotter, albeit in the same number of games as Palat. Stefan Noesen has one more point in six fewer games, and he missed training camp and the preseason with an injury. Brett Pesce has only played in nine games and has three points. PTO player turned signee Luke Glendening, who is making league minimum has three points! A winger who is making us much as Palat is being tied for SEVENTEENTH in team scoring alongside known offensive defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler is ridiculous!

Which leads to my main point: Ondrej Palat should no longer be playing every night for the New Jersey Devils. Is he honestly bringing anything at this point that a replacement level player couldn’t bring? Heck, at least if it’s a prospect playing, there’s still a higher ceiling for them to achieve. Palat is just out there clogging up a lineup spot and forcing whatever line he’s on to feel as if they’re playing shorthanded.

As a final aside, I know Palat has been discussed a lot on this site, and he’s certainly been the target of my ire more than once. The man was a legit NHL player, cup champion and deserves the respect he’s earned for his accolades. At the same time, whether his play style finally caught up to him, his skill decline came on earlier than it does for many, or if the ever faster game just passed him by, he’s not playing like an NHL level player anymore. I know we’ve said it will be easier to stomach buying him out this coming summer (or trying to move him) but having him on the ice every night isn’t the Devils icing their best 20 available players. The team sits at the top of the Eastern Conference as I finish writing this. If they want to remain there, they need to play their best available group every night.

Even with a few injuries right now, that still should mean that Ondrej Palat is shifting into the press box role, rather than being a part of Sheldon Keefe’s Middle Six every night.

What are your thoughts on Palat’s 2025-26 so far; do you think his ineffectiveness merits him coming out of the lineup? Do you still believe he should be playing every game for the Devils? Do you think a healthy scratch or two might jump start his production? Would you be okay if he was consistently used in a fourth line role? Will the Devils move him or buy him out this summer? Leave any and all comments down below, thanks as always for reading, and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate!