Mathieu Darche, the New York Islanders’ general manager, is on a purchasing streak. On Tuesday night, he acquired forward Ondrej Palat from the New Jersey Devils, along with a third-round draft pick and a sixth-rounder, in exchange for winger Maxim Tsyplakov.
The Islanders are retaining Palat’s $6 million AAV salary for the remaining two years of his contract. This retention yielded them two draft picks. The third-rounder replaces the one traded to the New York Rangers for defenseman Carson Soucy on Monday night.
Palat has faced difficulties this season with the struggling Devils, netting only four goals and six assists in 51 games. Over his initial three seasons with New Jersey, the 34-year-old achieved 82 points in 197 games.
Moving to New York reunites him with Darche, who worked with him at the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that won two Stanley Cups. During his decade with Tampa, Palat was a crucial middle-six player, averaging 56 points per 82 games.
In New York, Palat is anticipated to serve as a bottom-six forward, contribute to the penalty kill, and add veteran depth to the Islanders’ lineup. After Kyle Palmieri’s season-ending injury in November, head coach Patrick Roy has been rotating players like Tsyplakov, Max Shabanov, Kyle MacLean, and Marc Gatcomb on the wings.
Tsyplakov, in his second season with the Islanders, recorded just one goal and one assist in 27 games.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com