Yes, the New Jersey Devils traded Ondrej Palat to the New York Islanders. And yes, Palat was the Islanders' first star of the game after a two-point outing against the New York Rangers on Wednesday, which included an early power-play goal.
In fact, before the trade, Palat went five games without recording a single point for the Devils. People were quick to criticize the Devils on social media, believing that it was their fault as to why Palat wasn't able to "unlock" any potential. This is absurd, but to Palat's credit, he has a history of elevating his game in big moments.
He tallied nine points (three goals and six assists) in 17 career playoff games for the Devils. Dating back to his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he was an underrated asset when the team appeared in three straight Stanley Cup Finals.
The Islanders have a 67.2% chance of making the playoffs, according to MoneyPuck. With Palat being a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, it shouldn't come as a surprise if he elevates his game if the Islanders make the postseason. However, fans shouldn't overreact to Palat's impressive Islanders debut or his capabilities in the playoffs because, at the end of the day, getting him off the books was crucial.
Moving Forward
Currently, the Devils have about $6.88 million in available cap space, which gives them some wiggle room to work with. This kind of move will benefit the Devils more come the offseason. A big reason they haven't been able to make a "splashy" move recently is the number of players with long-term deals and strong trade protection.
That's why it was difficult for the Devils to win the Quinn Hughes sweepstakes. Shedding Palat's contract is a step in the right direction and will give the Devils a better future. The trade deadline is March 6th, so Tom Fitzgerald still has some time to make another cap-friendly move. It's been widely speculated that Dougie Hamilton might be dealt; however, he's been playing well as of late, and Luke Hughes' long-term injury complicates things.