New Jersey pulls the trigger on a salary dump, shipping veteran winger Ondrej Palat to the Islanders in exchange for promising scorer Tsyplakov to free up precious cap space. Devils brass eyes flexibility for a playoff push, betting the younger legs inject fresh energy into their lineup without losing grit. This deal reshapes two Atlantic foes' bottom six, with implications rippling through the deadline market as both sides chase that Eastern Conference edge.

Islanders winger Ondrej Palat notches his first Olympic point as Czechia rolls to a 6-3 win over France, keeping their medal hopes alive. The veteran flashes that playoff grit we know from New York, setting up plays amid a barrage of goals. With the group stage winding down, Palat's timely contribution underscores Czechia's depth in this international showdown.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey leaves Canada's dominant Olympic opener against Czechia early in the second period with an undisclosed injury, and he doesn't return despite trying. Coach Jon Cooper offers no update yet, but the Jets' top blueliner logged just 7:10 before heading to the locker room after possible contact with Ondrej Palat or Martin Necas.

New York Islanders centers Bo Horvat and Ondrej Palat trade punches on the international stage as Canada battles Czechia in their Olympic opener. Horvat slots into Canada's stacked forward group while Palat brings that playoff grit to a Czech squad nobody wants to face in a medal round. Locker room vets know these club rivalries fuel the fire, and a statement win here boosts both guys' stock heading into the NHL stretch drive.

Ondrej Palat's Czech Olympic teammates get an up-close look at the veteran winger's Islander grit during Milano Cortina prep. The guy who torched Tampa's Cup runs now anchors New York's blue line, blending snarl with smarts that NHL coaches covet. His international crew respects the intangibles he brings, which could prove pivotal if the Czechs chase hardware against powerhouse foes.

The Islanders pull off a slick intra-division heist, landing Stanley Cup hero Ondrej Palat from the Devils along with draft picks in exchange for Maxim Tsyplakov. Mathieu Darche, who knows Palat's game inside out from their Tampa days, bets on the 34-year-old's playoff pedigree to shore up New York's push for the postseason. Palat's two Cups, Calder Cup, and upcoming Olympics stint bring that championship grit Long Island craves as they sit third in the Metro, just two points back.