NHL Trade Rumors: Islanders Had Prefered Target Over Palat

NY Islanders forward Ondrej Palat celebrates after scoring a goal

The New York Islanders swung two trades this past week with Tri-State rivals, the second one bringing in Ondrej Palat and his $6 million cap hit for another year from the New Jersey Devils. Despite only coming in with four goals and 10 points in 51 games with Jersey, the veteran forward immediately made an impact, with two points and a power play goal in his first game with the Isles.

But we're hearing from insider Elliotte Friedman that Palat wasn't the Islanders' first choice as they were looking for a forward on the trade market. He reported on the 32 Thoughts podcast that a more certain top-six candidate was their prefered choice: Michael Bunting of the Nashville Predators.

I think the Islanders took a look at Bunting. He's a UFA in Nashville. I think they were looking at him, (but) obviously they couldn't reach a deal, so they went for Palat instead.

Bunting is wrapping up a three-year, $13.5 million deal this season ($4.5 million AAV), and is pretty consistent in providing secondary scoring. With 12 goals and 29 points in 52 games, the 30-year-old two-time 20-goal scorer is on pace for about 19 goals and 45 points. He recorded 19 goals in each of the previous two seasons, preceded by a couple of 23-goal efforts with the Toronto Maple Leafs before that.

The scrappy middle-six winger will be of interest to teams as the deadline approaches.

As for Palat, he's finding himself in a second-line role with the Isles for now, with Bo Horvat and Emil Heineman, and earned 14:43 of ice time in his second game with the team.

On Saturday night, the Isles will get a close-up look at the player they couldn't secure, as Bunting and the Predators visit Long Island.