Devils' Palat Returning To Form

After an injury-riddled 2022-23 season, Ondřej Palát's numbers suggest he's returning to form and then some for the New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils signing Ondřej Palát always raised an eyebrow. Not because he's a bad player by any stretch, but rather for the price tag. Late on July 1, 2022, the Devils announced they had signed him to a five-year deal at a total of $30 million. 

Palát's first year in New Jersey did not live up to the $6 million cap hit they had signed him to, partly because of injuries. Based on counting totals — 11 points in 22 games — to start 2023-24, you could argue the same. 

But though he's not lighting up the scoresheet, Palát has been a much better player through the first 22 games of the new season. And it’s starting to translate into positive results. Let's look at the start of his season, how he's helped the Devils, and how he's helped other players fit into better roles. 

Palát’s Rebound

It's no secret that Palát's 2022-23 season did not go well. He missed two-plus months after undergoing groin surgery and finished with 23 points in 49 games — a 38-point pace over 82 games. 

Though he showed some flashes of the player he was in Tampa, there's no denying that Palát wasn't the player he was with the Lightning during his first season with the Devils. His five-on-five numbers were solid; he finished with a 58.66 expected goals percentage (xG%). But it's clear something was missing. 

One of Palát's strong suits in Tampa was his forechecking ability, but that disappeared last season. He ranked in the fifth percentile in recoveries and 41st percentile in pressures:

I think it's safe to say that part of Palát's forechecking struggles last season were related to his injury. He did show some signs of regaining that form during the playoffs, especially in the Devils' Round 1 series against the New York Rangers. 

Jumping to this season, it seems Palát's work on the forecheck has gotten better, at least by the eye. Even if he hasn't reached the levels he did with the Lightning, he looks like a much healthier and improved player from what he was a season ago.