Most of the GMs in the league miss out on the big ticket FA then overspend on a guy who isn't worth it. I'm fine with them not going for the table scraps trying to piece something together.

What about Zadorov? Think he is available. What do you all think about Smith and Haula?
- shoobedevil

Zadorov would be better back there than pk

Not sure I want palat on a 5yr deal that I’ve seen rumored.. that brings him to 36.. and it’s kinda like, why bother?

Not sure I want palat on a 5yr deal that I’ve seen rumored.. that brings him to 36.. and it’s kinda like, why bother?
- MartysBetter88

He wasn’t very good this year. He’s already on the decline.

This Palat signing is garbage.

Stupid. Such a rough deal. Let the kids play if you can’t fill the spot with someone great. Now we’re going to be trying to dump him and buy him out on a few seasons.

Stupid. Such a rough deal. Let the kids play if you can’t fill the spot with someone great. Now we’re going to be trying to dump him and buy him out on a few seasons.
- MartysBetter88

The worst part is that the regression might be way sooner than that because he's played almost two full seasons worth of playoff games in his career. This might be one of those instantly bad contracts.

I can't be more flabbergasted at this signing like why?!! He's Miles Wood but not as fast I'm sure if we could get into the playoffs Wood would be great but why now at that number!!!

Most of the GMs in the league miss out on the big ticket FA then overspend on a guy who isn't worth it. I'm fine with them not going for the table scraps trying to piece something together.
- Pomegrant

Looks like we just.....

I can't be more flabbergasted at this signing like why?!! He's Miles Wood but not as fast I'm sure if we could get into the playoffs Wood would be great but why now at that number!!!
- SwedfishLars

Watching him in the playoffs, he’s a gamer. I think it’s a bit high but he plays in all 3 zones and is a playoff performer.

NJ needed 3 forwards this offseason and Palat wasn't one of them. Palat only adds to what is an already cluttered line-up an he is now immovable clutter.

Colossal error by this management. But I saw it coming. They were desperate and they got stupid.

NJ needs a talented guy to play with Hischier. They needed two more TOP 6 forwards to help complement both duos in Bratt Hughes and Hischier and whomever they would have brought in.

They got neither, and now we're going to see Holtz and Mercer drown in top 6 roles again, and Palat put up a 30 point season.

Even better, the Devils, because they are long past the days of actually playing defense, will have "goaltending issues" again. They'll have goaltending issues as long as Lindy Ruff is coach, and then those "goaltending issues" will magically disappear when he's fired.

But don't worry about that, they'll do that in the clumsiest way possible by firing Ruff midseason and having Brunette take over. Not letting a guy run a whole training camp but instead just bring in an interim, who, might I add, got completely and severely outclassed by Jon Cooper in the playoffs.

Yeah... I'm just gonna say DOOMED and be done with it.

What a terrible signing. Just awful all around. Typical UFA overpay(both term and $) that will go south badly, the last 2-3 years of that deal are going to be an issue. Hes a good player, he'll play in the top 6 and stylistically he adds a dimension to this lineup that we dont have, but it's a very short-sighted move.

The thing that makes this sting even more is that while we were hung up on the JG discussions, Burakovsky got the same term and less AAV, and he's younger and just better. We should've been all over that. Such a stupid desperate panic move from Fitz here.

This Palat signing is garbage.
- Pomegrant

Adding two 30 plus year old 40 point players is the same as adding one 80 point player, right, right????

I have disdain.

Adding two 30 plus year old 40 point players is the same as adding one 80 point player, right, right????
- smellmyfinger

Palat is a huge signing for you guys. Contract aside he’s is the prototypical playoff performer.

Palat is a huge signing for you guys. Contract aside he’s is the prototypical playoff performer.
- nyrangers2

That only helps if we make the playoffs which isnt gonna happen

What a terrible signing. Just awful all around. Typical UFA overpay(both term and $) that will go south badly, the last 2-3 years of that deal are going to be an issue. Hes a good player, he'll play in the top 6 and stylistically he adds a dimension to this lineup that we dont have, but it's a very short-sighted move.

The thing that makes this sting even more is that while we were hung up on the JG discussions, Burakovsky got the same term and less AAV, and he's younger and just better. We should've been all over that. Such a stupid desperate panic move from Fitz here.
- vlongo4419

Palat has proven to be a clutch playoff performer so if we make the playoffs his experience will help alot

And if we still aren't good in a few years then some sucker will trade from him due to his playoff performances

Palat Hughes sharangovich
Bratt Nico Holtz
Mercer haula johnsson/tatar
Wood McLeod Bastian
Boqvist

Hamilton graves
Severson siegenthalar
Smith smith

Should be better than last season especially with brunette helping

Don't think playoff team unless everything goes right

Palat is a huge signing for you guys. Contract aside he’s is the prototypical playoff performer.
- nyrangers2

Need to get there though. Big questions in goal, still a few questions on bottom pair D and other than hoping the kids take big steps we didn’t add a ton off offense. We probably won’t be picking 2nd again, but I’m not sure this looks like a playoff team.

Need to get there though. Big questions in goal, still a few questions on bottom pair D and other than hoping the kids take big steps we didn’t add a ton off offense. We probably won’t be picking 2nd again, but I’m not sure this looks like a playoff team.
- smellmyfinger

Only way I can see devil's being a playoff team is the following

Jack and Nico staying healthy all year with Jack being a top player
We get good goaltending which I am not confident about
Our special teams improve a lot
Our young guys like Mercer and Holtz either take next step or step in
And other teams faulter

I think they will be much better this season and be more competitive but not ready for playoffs

Palat is not the worst signing.
I get that all the other opportunities we missed.
He will provide some leadership here , he is battle tested. I know this blog is female dogging about it, but he will help the team.

Palat is not the worst signing.
I get that all the other opportunities we missed.
He will provide some leadership here , he is battle tested. I know this blog is female dogging about it, but he will help the team.
- Jazzmaster30

Palat isn't the issue. Hes a good player and will definitely help this team, brings a lot of things to the team that we lack. Nice boost to the top 6 for the time being. The issue is the contract is awful and will more likely than not age pretty poorly.

I completely understand the negative sentiment around the Palat signing and to some degree even share some of the feelings many have expressed. With that said, I don't think it's as bad as some are saying. I think the heartache caused by missing out on JG didn't necessarily set up Palat's deal to be well received.

While not a superstar, he's a guy who's proven he can play alongside superstars and help them get even more chances than they would on their own. That is significant to our team considering our "superstars" or at the very least "stars hoping to become superstars" were and still are in dire need of support on their wings.

This helps Jack/Nico right now and ultimately I think they help him as well. We're talking about two unbelievable young centers, Palat will get his chances as well. Jack is no Stamkos, but to be fair, Stamkos is no Jack either.

I completely understand the negative sentiment around the Palat signing and to some degree even share some of the feelings many have expressed. With that said, I don't think it's as bad as some are saying. I think the heartache caused by missing out on JG didn't necessarily set up Palat's deal to be well received.

While not a superstar, he's a guy who's proven he can play alongside superstars and help them get even more chances than they would on their own. That is significant to our team considering our "superstars" or at the very least "stars hoping to become superstars" were and still are in dire need of support on their wings.

This helps Jack/Nico right now and ultimately I think they help him as well. We're talking about two unbelievable young centers, Palat will get his chances as well. Jack is no Stamkos, but to be fair, Stamkos is no Jack either.
- SteveJ123

Well said!

What a terrible signing. Just awful all around. Typical UFA overpay(both term and $) that will go south badly, the last 2-3 years of that deal are going to be an issue. Hes a good player, he'll play in the top 6 and stylistically he adds a dimension to this lineup that we dont have, but it's a very short-sighted move.

The thing that makes this sting even more is that while we were hung up on the JG discussions, Burakovsky got the same term and less AAV, and he's younger and just better. We should've been all over that. Such a stupid desperate panic move from Fitz here.
- vlongo4419

Palat will provide leadership, mentoring, 2 cups worth of knowledge. All things Burak cant. Im ok with the signing. We have the cash to burn. As a GM, you NEED to show your team and fans you wont sit on your ass, Fitz had to do something, probably.

Palat isnt exciting like JG, but he's solid and reliable.

It seemed like last handul of yrs, Palat was always on the "trade block" His name was always thrown around, yet he wasnt moved and Tampa won and won. Thats not a coincidence. I think he'll provide great things that go un noticed on the scoresheet.