Meet Mr. Cabernet | How Ondřej Palát’s Offseason Mentality has led to Early Season Results

In the locker room following the Islanders 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, a game in which Ondřej Palát was rewarded for a recent stretch of strong play with a goal, Simon Holmström awarded Palát the oar.

As Holmström presented the oar, he called Palát "Mr. Cabernet.” It has nothing to do with Palát’s wine palate, but instead, it’s a nickname prescribed by Mat Barzal for the way Palát has continued to impact winning in his 15th NHL season.  

“He just ages like a fine wine,” Holmström said on why he calls Palát Mr. Cabernet.  

Palát has returned to his consistent, productive form amid a strong start to the 2026-27 season, but it wasn’t without a difficult transition for the 35-year-old who was acquired by the Islanders from the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 27, 2026.  

It was the first time in his lengthy NHL career that Palát was traded as he spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning – where he won two Stanley Cups – and 3.5 years with the Devils.  

He said it was difficult leaving his family in New Jersey – where they still reside – and join a new team in the middle of the season.  

“It was a tough year with the trade and everything but no excuses for me,” Palát told Newyorkislanders.com “It was not a good year for me but I'm not thinking about the past anymore. I can’t change that. That was my mindset in the summer to not focus on the past, get better, get faster, do whatever I can to stay in the league and then be a better player.”

Head Coach Pete DeBoer only coached three games with Palát in the lineup after the former was hired on April 5.  

However, DeBoer had coached against Palát often and knew the kind of 200-foot game he possessed.  

DeBoer knew that after Palát posted an atypical five points (1G, 4A) in 29 games with the Islanders that something was amiss and his exit meeting with Palát confirmed what he thought.  

“It was just an off year for him and talking to him in his exit meeting, there was a lot going on,” DeBoer said. “You get traded, your family's in New Jersey, you're here, new team, that's never easy. I just think the fact that he had the summer to get his head around that he's here, he's part of this, what he has to do, my expectations. The guy's won Stanley Cups for a reason and he's playing like he's gonna really help us here going forward.” 

DeBoer and Palát talked over the phone during the summer and the former was candid with the NHL veteran who’s played 915 career games.  

“I talked to him in the summer, and I've always admired his game, but I think we were open and honest with everybody,” DeBoer said. “I thought he could help us, but he was going to have to come to camp and show that he could help us on a nightly basis, and he did that right from day one of camp, and he started in the depth of the lineup and he's worked his way up.”

Palát took that message to heart and told Islanders General Manager and Executive Vice President Mathieu Darche during the summer that he insisted on earning his ice time.  

Palát has proven his worth over the years with eight seasons of 15 or more goals, seven years of 40-plus points and 103 playoff points (51G, 52A). 

Despite his 523 career points and impressive resume, Palát perhaps didn’t have to prove anything, but he told Darche that he was treating this season like it was his rookie year in 2012-13 when a roster spot in Tampa Bay was up for grabs.  

“Last year wasn't good enough,” Palát said. “I was a healthy scratch at the end of the season and I said my mindset going into the camp is going to be different, it's gonna be like my first year in Tampa, where I didn’t know if I'm gonna make a team. My mindset was like, ‘I'm gonna show everybody I can play in this league.’ I can play good minutes in this league, and I deserve to have a spot and show everybody I'm ready.” 

Palát's linemate JG Pageau understands what it’s like to be traded in the middle of a season.  

Pageau was dealt to the Islanders from the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 24, 2020, and helped the Isles reach the Eastern Conference Finals against the Lightning that season. 

The savvy veteran centerman said it's an adjustment process joining a new team mid-season. Pageau said it takes time to learn about teammate tendencies and how to mesh within a locker room.  

“He's a big addition to the team,” Pageau said. “Sometimes when you get traded mid-season, there's the family that's left behind, there's a lot that goes into it, so we don't want to forget that. I feel like he's right on his game, and we're lucky to have him.” 

Pageau and Palát have been paired with Anthony Duclair often on the Islanders third line and their connection as three veterans has been apparent.  

Another thing that has been noticeable, at least to Pageau, is the way in which Palát attacked the offseason – both physically and mentally – to be ready for his first full season with the Islanders.  

“He's been amazing,” Pageau said. “He came in (to) camp I thought with a great attitude, extremely positive, in good shape, and the way he plays, he's so hard on the puck. He's so smart when he's on the ice on both sides, not only in the defensive zone but in the O zone, the way he creates those little plays or makes some room for his line mate, he definitely makes the line mate he's playing with better so he's been fun to play with.” 

Holmström echoed Pageau’s sentiment and said that Palát has been a leader for the younger players in the locker room with his wisdom and wit.  

“He came into this training camp of the season with a little revenge maybe and he's been one of our best forwards so far,” Holmström said. “... unbelievable guy in the locker room, and fun to joke around with and he's got a couple Cups for a reason, and I'm just very happy for him.”

The Numbers Behind Palat’s Success

While Palát has a respectable three points (2G, 1A) through 10 games, his impact on a game is difficult to quantify with a simple box score or measure with the simplistic counting stats like goals or assists.  

Palát has thrived in all three zones this season with his 200-foot style at the nucleus of his game. Palát plays with a defensively detailed game and in turn, he’s generating offensive opportunities as the analytics suggest.

Palát shined against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 17 where he was a key catalyst for the Isles offense. Palát played 11:57 of time on ice 5-on-5 and the Islanders’ shot attempts were 18-1 over the Maple Leafs when Palát was on the ice according to Natural Stat Trick.  

“He’s been great all year,” DeBoer said following the Toronto game. “He’s come back with something to prove and I think right from training camp he’s been engaged and ready and he wants more. If anything it’s on me to give him a little bit more than he’s even got so far he’s been that good. I just love his mindset.” 

When Palát is on the ice, offense often follows and conversely; he’s not giving up scoring opportunities.  

This is evident as Palát is No. 10 in the NHL with a 65.5 expected goals for percentage (xGF%) per 60 minutes according to hockeystats.com (among players with at least 10 games played). This indicates that when Palát is on the ice, the Isles have nearly 2/3 of the scoring chances and control play in the offensive zone.  

Defensively, Palát’s numbers are elite as he has an expected goals against per 60 minutes of 1.48 which is fifth best in the NHL among players with a minimum of 10 games.  

On the graph below, Palát is among some of the best players in the league as being in the top right quadrant is the objective. Two of those three Oilers just above Palát are Connor McDavid – who leads the NHL with an absurd 31 points (8G, 23A) in nine games – and Leon Draisaitl.

“I'm not on social media, I don't care about stats and stuff but it's obviously nice,” Palát said of being towards the league’s best in analytics. “I feel like I've been playing good hockey. Just point-wise I would like to generate or get rewarded more but I'm taking (it) game by game.” 

Palát also impacts winning defensively along with Pageau and Duclair as the trio is sixth in the NHL in expected goals against among lines that have played 34 minutes together according to Moneypuck.com.  

“We are three veteran guys that know how to play and we need to play certain ways,” Palát said. “We need to be close to each other, be hard to play against especially. I feel like the whole four lines are doing that, and maybe surprising teams like that we work so hard.”