New Jersey Devils fans were hoping the team would move on from ineffective veteran forward Ondrej Palat and his albatross $6 million cap hit this offseason, but that transaction never came to pass.
But, to start the 2025-26 season, this insane stat - albeit a basic one - proves the Devils need to pull the plug. At the very least, get Palat out of the top six, and especially away from the Devils' two most skilled forwards in Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt.
In 11 games this season, Palat, 34, has just one assist. No goals, either, just one assist, and that's while featuring heavily with Hughes and Bratt. Even defenseman Brenden Dillon has two goals and five points this year. It sounds almost impossible.
Fourth-line center Luke Glendening, too, has been more productive with his two assists.
Palat, Juho Lammikko, Brian Halonen, Glendening, Zack MacEwen, and Evgenii Dadonov are the only Devils forwards who haven't scored a goal this season, but Palat has a $6 million cap hit, while Dadonov is the second-closest in this group with $1 million plus some performance bonuses.
It almost goes without mentioning, too, that MacEwen and Dadonov have each played only one game this season due to injury, while Lammikko just returned from an injury himself.
If head coach Sheldon Keefe and the Devils are to get the most out of their players this season, they're going to have to demote Palat. There's really no other way around it, and the fans are all growing tired quickly after Palat missed another huge chance against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.
Dawson Mercer, Stefan Noesen, and rookie Arseny Gritsyuk are all superior options, and Gritsyuk, in particular, would benefit the most from such a change.
The 24-year-old Russian has blazing speed, a wicked shot release, and the maturity in his game to hustle and fish out pucks during board battles. Sure, his defensive game needs work, but you're not putting Hughes and Bratt on the ice to play defense... are you?
Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense, where you either score at will or possess the puck so long that your opponent wears out and you can make multiple line changes on the cycle.
As good of a player as he used to be, Palat's best days are behind him now, and he's being set up to fail by being continually used in this top-six role. The times have changed, and the Devils need to adapt accordingly.