Ondrej Palat News

Palat spent the first 10 years of his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning after being a seventh-round pick in 2011. Palat is a good complimentary top-6 winger that can play with either Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier in New Jersey. Over the last three seasons, he's averaged 20 goals and 35 assists (55 points) per 82 games.

Palat missed the last five games with a lower-body injury but will be back in the lineup when the Lighting host the Devils on Thursday. This is good timing for the Lightning, as they will be without Nikita Kucherov, who was added to the COVID-19 protocol list on Tuesday.

Palat was held out of part of Tuesday's win in Buffalo and will not play Thursday vs. the Canucks. With Palat out, Mathieu Joseph skated on the top line in the morning skate.

Palat was forced to leave Thursday's game vs. the Coyotes after being on the receiving end of a knee from Taylor Hall. Palat did not return to the game and is questionable to play in their back-to-back over the weekend.

Palat has been out since October 26th but will draw back into the lineup vs. the Sabres. Palat is expected to be back on the fourth line and on the second power-play unit in his return. He has five assists in nine games this season.

Palat was on the ice for the Lightning’s morning skate, but will miss his 14th consecutive game. Palat is nearing a return, so monitor his status heading into Friday’s game vs. the Blackhawks.

The Lightning announced on Wednesday that Palat is not progressing like they hoped and announced this morning that he will be shutdown for four weeks. With Palat out, J.T. Miller is expected to remain in the Lightning’s top-6 through November and into December.

Lightning’s head coach said that Palat is not “progressing the way wen liked so we shut him down here for a little bit.” Palat was originally expected to be back before Victor Hedman, but it sounds like the opposite will end up coming true.

Palat has missed the last three games and will miss at least the next two. Palat did not travel for the Lightning’s back-to-back which starts in Montreal on Saturday and finishes in Ottawa on Sunday.

Palat will not play Tuesday vs. the Devils or Thursday vs. the Predators, but could be back Saturday in Montreal. With Palat out, the Lightning shuffled their lines at Monday’s practice, reuniting J.T. Miller-Steven Stamkos-Nikita Kucherov.

Palat, who has been out since January 20th, skated on the second line and second power-play unit at the Lightning’s morning skate and will play tonight vs. the Maple Leafs. Palat is a huge addition to the Lightning lineup as he picked up eight goals and 22 assists (30 points) in 46 games before getting injured.