Kyle Palmieri
Position: RW
Age: 34
Statistics: 19 goals, 21 assists, 40 points
Contract: $5 million, pending unrestricted free agent
Player Overview
The New Jersey native and the former New Jersey Devil could be on the move. With the New York Islanders on the outside looking in, general manager Lou Lamoriello could look to move the winger to gain valuable assets and that is where the Devils can step in.
When you look back at his tenure with the Devils, Palmieri took the a step further in his career. This is a player that has a nose for the net and a good shot to be able to light the lamp. From 2015-20, Palmieri scored 20 goals in every season for the Devils and reached the 40-point mark each time as well. While the goals have not been nearly as in plenty since being traded to the Islanders, Palmieri is still a good middle six winger on a contending team.
Over the last four years, Palmieri has reached the 30-point mark and even had 54 points during the 2023-24 season (along with 30 goals). He is currently on pace to have the highest point output of his Islanders career, as his current 19-goal, 21-assist rate is good for 56 points over an 82-game schedule.
Palmieri profiles, analytically, as exactly the type of player New Jersey needs. Over the last three seasons, his on-ice offensive metrics rank in the league’s 83rd percentile. His expected and actual goals above replacement figures at both even strength and on the power play are extremely strong offensively. Not to mention, in each season, he is shooting over 13%, which is a sign of good finishing.
Contract
Kyle Palmieri is in the final year of his contract, meaning he is in a walk year and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Palmieri currently has a salary cap hit of $5 million. With that being said, he would be looked at as a rental. Which does make sense given he is 34 years old.
Potential Trade Package
As a pending free agent, the price will always be cheaper than those with term. It always comes down to how cheap, especially given you may only have the player’s services for not even a half of a season. Looking at last year’s deadline, New Jersey got a second and third-round pick in return for Tyler Toffoli, who was also a pending free agent. Granted, Palmieri is older and his overall production is slightly less than Toffoli’s was at the time of his trade (26 goals, 44 points).
With that being said, the Devils do own three second-round picks and a third-round pick in next season’s draft. Based off that Toffoli package, one would assume a single second-round selection would get a deal done. Would Palmieri be worth that? Would the Devils be able to get away with a third and a later-round pick?
Fit With The Devils
Palmieri would fit like a glove on this Devils roster. Ironically, he would be able to fit exactly where he fit in his first stint with the club. The Devils are clearly in need of more offense, as Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier cannot continuously carry the load.
Palmieri could slot in on the top line or in the middle six. His offensive presence would give the Devils an immediate boost and be able to add that extra layer of scoring. The Devils need depth in the worst way when it comes to scoring. Hughes and Hischier are the only two players with more than 20 goals. Depth players like Paul Cotter and Stefan Noesen had strong starts to the season, but have cooled down since then, creating a need for Palmieri or any scoring winger for that matter.
If the cost is right, Palmieri would make a ton of sense. Not to mention, even at 34 years old, given his ties to the area, maybe a short-term deal at season’s end would make sense.