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Ondrej Palat claims he hasn’t gotten in the way of the Devils’ business.
On Tuesday, the veteran forward told NJ Advance Media that he has not vetoed any Devils trade over the past several weeks nor has he even been approached about the possibility by general manager Tom Fitzgerald.
“I don’t know anything about it. I’m off social media. Fitz has not talked to me or anything, so I don’t know anything,” Palat told NJ Advance Media.
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This comes one day after Palat was listed as a trade candidate by ESPN. Sportsnet reported Monday that Devils players vetoed trades leading up to their failed pursuit of superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes. Many assumed that Palat — who has full no-movement protection — was one of those players, along with Dougie Hamilton (who did not say no when asked by NJ Hockey Now if he vetoed a trade).
ESPN reported Tuesday that the problem with the Devils’ trade proposal for Hughes wasn’t “necessarily the bid itself,” but rather their “inability to clear the necessary salary cap space to take on Hughes’ $7.85 million AAV.” This is where their long list of NMCs/NTCs becomes an issue.
NJ Advance Media looked at each team’s PuckPedia page and found that the Devils have a staggering 15 players with no-trade/no-movement clauses on their current/pending contracts, which is tied with the Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers for the most in the NHL.
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As for Palat — who has two years left at a $6 million AAV and just seven points in 33 games — he said he’s happy in New Jersey and with his play this season.
“Yeah for sure I like it here,” he said. “I can’t control things or whatever anyone says. …
“I don’t have many points, but I feel like I’m creating a lot, I’m working hard, I’m doing everything on the ice.”