Veteran Ondrej Palat is out as the Islanders gamble on new lineup combinations in a do-or-die game.
ELMONT, NY -- With a win now a must to keep their playoff hopes alive, New York Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer has decided to take veteran Ondrej Palat out of the lineup.
In comes Anthony Duclair, who has served as a healthy scratch since their 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on March 31, four games ago.
Palat, whom the Islanders acquired from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Maxim Tsyplakov, along with a 2026 third-round pick, has struggled with just five points (one goal, four assists) in 28 games with Long Island, with 30 shots on goal, averaging 13:00 per game.
The Islanders have been outscored 18-13 when he's been on the ice at 5-on-5.
Former head coach Patrick Roy had tried him on every line. He did look his best on the fourth line, but he's not a better fit over Kyle MacLean or Marc Gatcomb, and that speaks volumes.
DeBoer initially had Palat on the fourth line for his Islanders' coaching debut before playing him on the third line in their 3-0 shutout loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon, with forward Maxim Shabanov out of the lineup with an upper-body injury.
Palat has one season left at $6 million annually. If bought out, because he is 35, his cap hit for the 2026-27 season would be $2.7 million, saving the Islanders $3.3 million.
He then would be on the books at $1.65 million in 2027-28.
The above is an incredibly likely scenario, especially if Palat is not going to be an everyday player next season.