Palat joins Devils on 5-year contract

A day after the Devils missed out on the top prize in NHL free agency, they landed two-time Stanley Cup champion Ondrej Palat on Thursday. The Devils signed Palat to a five-year, $30 million contract. The left-winger had 52 points in 71 games during the Lightning’s three consecutive trips to the Cup Final. He finished sixth in Conn Smythe Trophy voting as playoff MVP this year. The Lightning attempted to keep the 31-year-old from Czechia and defenseman Jan Rutta, who signed with the Penguins, but couldn’t make the salary cap numbers work. Instead, GM Julien BriseBois signed defensemen Mikhail Sergachev and Erik Cernak and center Anthony Cirelli to eight-year extensions through 2031. The Devils landed Palat after losing the Johnny Gaudreau sweepstakes to the Blue Jackets. In other notable moves Thursday, the Senators re-signed restricted free agent forward Josh Norris to an eightyear, $63.6 million contract. Norris, 23, was the Senators’ leading goal scorer last season with 35 goals while also posting 20 assists.