Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ondrej Palat will test free agency

Add Ondrej Palat to the growing list of star players heading to free agency.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported Monday night that the Tampa Bay Lightning forward would be hitting the open market.

Palat, 31, has spent his whole career with the Lightning after being drafted by the club in the 7th round of the 2011 draft. This past season was among his most productive where he scored 18 goals and 49 points in 77 games.

He’s consistently been a big moment player for the Bolts and has always elevated his game in the postseason. This past spring was his best yet when, in 23 playoff games, he scored 11 goals and 21 points.

This past year saw Palat wrap up a five-year deal that paid him an AAV of $5.3-million. According to Evolving Hockey, he’s projected to get a three-year deal paying him an AAV of $5.566-million.

There is a number of teams looking for help in their top-six, so Palat shouldn’t have any issues finding a new team in short order when free agency opens Wednesday morning.