Devils add Palat on 5-year, $30M pact

The New Jersey Devils brought in two-time Stanley Cup champion Ondrej Palat on a five-year contract with a cap hit of $6 million, the team confirmed Thursday.

Palat recorded 18 goals and 31 assists in 77 games last season. He's averaged 55 points per 82 contests in his 10-year NHL career - all of which he spent with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Palat has posted stellar underlying metrics over the last three seasons, too.

Evolving-Hockey.com

The 31-year-old has also established himself as a clutch playoff performer. He tallied 11 goals and 10 assists in 23 postseason games in 2022. For his career, he's registered 94 points in 138 playoff tilts.

Palat isn't the biggest winger - listed at 6-feet, 194 pounds - but he isn't afraid to go to the dirty areas and play a heavy game. He racked up 124 hits last season.

The Devils were rumored to be among the clubs pursuing Johnny Gaudreau, so it appears Palat is their consolation prize.

New Jersey is a young team looking to make a leap, so Palat will also be counted on for his championship pedigree and veteran leadership.

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