As the NHL offseason approaches, teams are assessing their rosters, with Ondrej Palat of the New York Islanders emerging as a notable potential buyout candidate. Acquired from the New Jersey Devils, Palat has a remaining salary cap hit of $6 million for next season, which the Islanders could address by buying him out. A buyout would provide the Islanders approximately $14 million in cap space, although they may not need it given their current roster situation. With limited significant moves to make this offseason, the team may opt to retain Palat to avoid additional dead cap space.

By the Numbers
  • Palat has a remaining cap hit of $6 million for the 2026-27 season.
  • A buyout could save the Islanders $3.3 million this upcoming season, resulting in a $1.65 million penalty in the following year.
State of Play
  • The Islanders have $10.6 million in cap space, which they may manage without a buyout.
  • Only one significant player, Anders Lee, is left to address this summer, with several young prospects also poised for roster spots.
What's Next

As teams prepare for possible trades and roster tweaks, the Islanders will need to weigh the benefits of buying out Palat versus keeping him through the season. Decisions made this summer will shape their strategy as they approach the trade deadline where cap space could become more critical.

Bottom Line

The future of Ondrej Palat remains uncertain; a buyout could provide immediate cap relief but may not be necessary for the Islanders to achieve their offseason goals. The strategy they choose will significantly influence both their current season and potential trades moving forward.