New Jersey Devils veteran forward Ondrej Palat underwent successful groin surgery on Tuesday, the team announced.
Following recommendations after meeting with doctors on Monday, Palat, who was placed on injured reserve Saturday, had the surgery in Philadelphia while the Devils are on a road trip in Western Canada.
He is expected to make a full recovery, the team said in a news release, but his timeline on a return has not yet been determined.
Playing largely on the New Jersey’s top line, Palat, 31, skated in the Devils’ first six games, recording three goals on eight shots, while filling a glaring need on the Devils’ power-play unit. He has missed the last four games, including Tuesday’s 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
A 10-year NHL veteran, who won two Stanley Cup titles with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Palat joined the Devils over the summer via free agency. Not long after Tampa Bay lost to the Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Finals, Palat landed a five-year deal with an average annual value of $6 million with the Devils.
With the available roster spot, New Jersey recalled veteran forward Andreas Johnsson from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League last week. Johnsson, 27, was caught up in a numbers game during training camp, as New Jersey elected to go with younger prospects on their Opening Night roster.
Johnsson cleared waivers, however, allowing New Jersey to send him to the AHL and keep him on the payroll. He had a goal and six points in four games with Utica. Johnsson has 48 goals and 113 points in his six-year NHL career. He has yet to appear in the lineup since his promotion.
On Tuesday, Yegor Sharangovich and Jack Hughes each had a goal and assist as the Devils won their fourth straight game.
