Devils coach Sheldon Keefe and captain Nico Hischier praise Ondrej Palat after trade to Islanders

The New York Islanders made a significant roster move on Tuesday, acquiring veteran forward Ondrej Palat from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Maxim Tsyplakov. The deal also included a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a sixth-round pick in 2027, signaling the Islanders’ intent to strengthen their playoff push. Palat, a seasoned presence on and off the ice, will add experience to New York’s forward group.Palat, 34, has contributed 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 51 games this season and carries one year remaining on his five-year, $30 million contract. While his numbers may not dominate the score sheet, his leadership and work ethic have made him a cornerstone for the Devils, qualities that now move to the Islanders.Selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round of the 2011 NHL Draft, Palat has amassed 515 points (181 goals, 334 assists) in 876 regular-season games and added 103 points in 155 Stanley Cup Playoff contests. He played a crucial role in Tampa Bay’s back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.Devils coach Sheldon Keefe praised Palat, saying, “We’re going to miss ‘Pally.’ He’s a tremendous guy, great leader. a lot of that stuff doesn't show up on the score sheet, and I know he's given a hard time here because of that, but he's a tremendous person, a tremendous character, and for a team that's been trying to get there, he's a guy that's been there, done that and sets the example in lots of ways.”Devils captain Nico Hischier added, “obviously it's never easy to see a guy go like that, but obviously we wish him all the best and we all know that's part of the business.”For the Devils, Maxim Tsyplakov offers youth and potential. The 27-year-old forward has two points this season in 27 games but showed promise last year as a rookie with 35 points in 77 games. The Islanders’ move follows Monday’s trade for defenseman Carson Soucy from the Rangers, signalling their push for depth as they aim to secure a strong playoff position.