New Islanders Carson Soucy, Ondrej Palat make presence felt in win over Rangers
The newest Islanders: Carson Soucy, left, and Ondrej Palat take on the Rangers at UBS Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Ondrej Palat smiled under the IronMan mask awarded to him by teammates as the Islanders best player in the game. Later, goalie and fellow Czech David Rittich came over for a happy conversation in their native tongue before enveloping his new teammate in a bear hug.
“I told the guys I was thankful they made it very easy for me to blend into the team today,” the newest Islander said after scoring a power-play goal and adding an assist in Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Rangers at UBS Arena. “It’s been a crazy day but I’m glad it’s behind us.”
The former Devil, acquired on Tuesday, and defenseman Carson Soucy, acquired from the Rangers on Monday, both had successful Islanders’ debuts. Palat had the two points and three shots in 11:53 skating on Bo Horvat’s line with Emil Heienman while Soucy logged 15:49 with a blocked shot paired with Scott Mayfield.
“It’s a great first day,” captain Anders Lee said. “It’s a great first day for everyone. It’s great to have Soucy here, to have Ondrej. Those guys contributed big time tonight.”
Why the Islanders wanted Soucy and Palat was purely for hockey reasons with injuries leaving holes in their lineup. Why the two players wanted to come — and commute — to Long Island was a mix of family concerns and a chance to be part of a playoff push.
Neither wanted to relocate their wives and children. Soucy and his wife welcomed their third child less than two weeks ago. And both players are familiar with the Metropolitan Division.
“This one made sense,” said Soucy, 31, a pending unrestricted free agent in the final season of a three-year, $9.75 million deal who was sent from the Canucks to the Rangers just prior to last season’s trade deadline. “It’s definitely going to be weird going up [against the Rangers] in these next two games but, ultimately, it’s coming in here to try and make a playoff push.”
Soucy, who had three goals and five assists in 46 games for the Rangers this season, also logged 47 seconds on the penalty kill.
It’s just the fourth trade between the New York rivals since the Islanders were born in 1972 and the first since 2010.
“I guess it just kind of showed where both teams are at really,” Soucy said. “[Rangers GM Chris] Drury did me a favor of not wanting to ship my family, like last year, across the country. It’s nice that we’re not having to move houses.”
Palat, 34, in the fourth season of a five-year, $30 million, has a history with GM Mathieu Darche, the assistant GM with the Lightning, where Palat played his first 10 NHL seasons. They were together for Stanley Cup wins in 2020 and 2021.
Palat had no-movement protection and a modified no-trade clause in his contract but said he waived it to come to the Islanders and a chance for a fresh start after compiling just four goals and six assists in 51 games for the Devils.
“I don’t judge my play on the points,” said Palat, known for his two-way play. “I’m happy I got a couple.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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