The New Jersey Devils made a late-night move Wednesday inking free-agent forward Ondrej Palat to a five-year deal.
News of the deal was first reported by Kevin Weekes. TSN’s Chris Johnston later reported the deal was expected to carry a $6 million AAV.
Palat, 31, has spent his whole 10-year NHL career with the team that drafted him in the seventh round of the 2011 draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning. There, he became an incredibly useful top-six forward and is coming off one of his most productive years.
In 77 games this year, the two-time Stanley Cup Champion scored 18 goals and 49 points. But come the playoffs, he took his game to another level as he often does. In 23 postseason games, he scored 11 goals and 21 points helping the Tampa Bay Lightning into a tough Stanley Cup Final matchup with the Colorado Avalanche.
Palat was one of the league’s top free agents and came in at No. 11 on Daily Faceoff’s free-agent board. He was believed to have other suitors, too. According to The Athletic’s Eric Stephens, the Anaheim Ducks were one team interested in the winger.
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