Surprising news: The New Jersey Devils trade their most talented player to another weak hockey team.
Given that Mike McDaniel, the team’s new head coach, had experience with more conventional in-line blockers who could also catch, Miami’s handling of Gesicki’s 2022 free agency was unexpected. Despite Gesicki’s documented lack of blocking ability, the Dolphins gambled on their offensive and franchise-tagged him for $10.9 million rather than losing him for nothing in free agency.
He would have been worth it if Miami had pursued him like they did from 2019 through 2021. Rather, Gesicki’s use has fluctuated between being nonexistent and sporadic. Apart from his impressive six-reception, 69-yard, and two-touchdown outing in Week 6 against Minnesota, Gesicki has not seen much action. Despite being healthy the entire season, he has only played 49% of the offensive snaps.
Palat was brought in by the Devils for his postseason performances as well as his experience as a voice in the locker room. We don’t know for sure whether the former is true, but we do know that the latter is. Palat belongs in this tier rather than the lower ones mostly because of his strong play with the Devils during the previous season’s playoffs. Other than that, he doesn’t play very quickly or create much offensively. Not to mention that his $6 million deal for the next three seasons is practically unchangeable. They should move him if it is possible, but it is unlikely that another team would take a cap hit on him.
