New Jersey Devils player profile: Ondrej Palat

Palat is coming of a strong regular season – and even better playoffs – with the Lightning.

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While the New Jersey Devils struck out on Johnny Gaudreau in free agency, that did not stop them from finding a much-needed top-6 winger.

They made a $30 million commitment to Ondrej Palat in what was arguably the most notable transaction we’ve seen from GM Tom Fitzgerald this summer.

Today I’m going to review Palat’s 2021-22 campaign – and preview what’s to come – as we begin a player profile series that will dive into all the newcomers.

Counting stats: 77 games played, 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists), 16:30 average time on ice

5v5 underlyings: 1.94 points/60, -0.37 CF% Rel, -1.11 GF% Rel, +2.86 xGF% Rel, 1.016 PDO

2021-22 review: It was a very good season for Ondrej Palat across the board. He put forth his highest raw goal output since 2013-14, his highest point output since 2016-17, and flirted with a point per game (21 in 23) during Tampa Bay’s run to its third straight Stanley Cup Final.

Palat didn’t just produce because he saw quite a bit of ice on a nightly basis. He was efficient. Palat averaged 1.94 points per 60 minutes of 5v5 play, which was a high-end 2nd line rate; and more than notable teammates like Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli.

Palat only spent ~1/3 of his 5v5 ice on a line with Nikita Kucherov so it wasn’t as if he was just riding his coattails to production. His most frequent linemate – who he spent ~1/2 his team with – was Point and Palat averaged 1.93 points/60 in that time.

Beyond solid raw and rate production, Palat brought plenty to the table.