The New Jersey Devils have traded veteran forward Ondrej Palat to the New York Islanders in exchange for Maxim Tsyplakov and two draft picks. The deal, announced on Tuesday, bolsters the Islanders' playoff push while allowing the Devils to acquire a younger forward. Palat, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, brings extensive postseason experience to his new team.
On Tuesday, the New Jersey Devils executed a significant trade with divisional rivals, the New York Islanders, sending 34-year-old forward Ondrej Palat along with a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a sixth-round selection in 2027 to New York. In return, the Devils received 27-year-old Russian forward Maxim Tsyplakov.
Palat, who signed a five-year, $30 million contract with New Jersey in July 2022, has one season remaining on his deal with an average annual value of $6 million. This season, he has recorded 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 51 games. Over four seasons with the Devils, Palat amassed 92 points (38 goals, 54 assists) in 248 regular-season games and added nine points (three goals, six assists) in 17 playoff contests. A two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021, Palat also captured the 2024 World Championship with Czechia. His career totals include 515 points (181 goals, 334 assists) in 876 regular-season games and 103 points (51 goals, 52 assists) in 155 playoff games.
The trade reunites Palat with Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche, who served as director of hockey operations during Palat's championship runs in Tampa Bay. "It's exciting," Palat said. "I'm obviously very happy to be here... I would love to just produce a little bit more than in Jersey, but I'm not here to score 50 goals a season. I'm just here to bring the two-way game."
Darche praised Palat's pedigree: "We're getting a player that played 155 playoff games... He's won two Stanley Cups. He's won a Calder Cup. He's won the world championship with Czechia... That experience is very valuable."
Devils coach Sheldon Keefe lamented the loss: "We're going to miss 'Pally.' He's a tremendous guy, great leader... Often the example in terms of hard work and competitiveness."
Captain Nico Hischier added, "It's definitely not easy... He was always a guy I asked for help if I needed it. He was just a great teammate."
Tsyplakov, in his second NHL season, has two points (one goal, one assist) in 27 games this year after a rookie campaign of 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) in 77 games with the Islanders. He is in the first year of a two-year contract worth $2.25 million annually. His average ice time has decreased from 14:58 to 9:39 this season.
The Islanders, with a record of 28-19-5, sit third in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Devils, at 27-24-2, are sixth in the division and nine points out of the Eastern Conference wild-card spots. This marks the second trade in two days for New York, following the acquisition of defenseman Carson Soucy from the Rangers on Monday.
