Ondrej Palat's start to the 2024-25 season is a major concern

The veteran winger has struggled to produce while posting horrific underlying metrics across the board.

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By JP Gambatese (@JP_Gambatese)

The New Jersey Devils are just six games into the new season but there is already signs of a major issue developing: Ondrej Palat and his $6 million AAV contract. 

I had issue with the signing when it happened in 2022 and was promptly met with allegations of an overreaction and that it would all be fine come playoff time.

For two years, that held true — Palat was well worth his contract and performed like a dawg in the postseason. 

In 2022-23, despite playing in just over half the games by proxy of his groin injury, he posted an impressive 58.17% xGF% and the Devils controlled over 62% of the high-danger chances when he was on the ice.

That postseason, the story was much of the same — he placed seventh on the team in xGF% with a 56.45% and was a driving factor in the Devils’ first-round victory over the Rangers. 

In 2023-24, despite getting more flack from the general public, he was still the same old Palat. In 71 regular season games, he produced 11 goals and 31 points and held a 56.56% xGF, which was good for first on the team among regular skaters.

Unfortunately for everyone who told me to ignore aging curves, and praise the forward for his successes the past two seasons, this is the part where I say “I told you so!”