Kyle Palmieri

Lore & Background

Palmieri grew up on Long Island and played youth hockey for New Jersey Devils-sponsored teams at Codey Arena in West Orange, New Jersey. He attended St. Peter's Preparatory School for two years before joining the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP). During his time with the NTDP Under-18 team, he tallied 15 goals and 15 assists through 33 games. After being released from the NTDP for violating team rules, he played one season of college hockey for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, scoring nine goals in 33 games.

Following his college season, Palmieri signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks and was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. He made his NHL debut on November 3, 2010, scoring his first career goal in an overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Over his first three professional seasons, he was shuttled between the Crunch and the Ducks, earning AHL All-Star selections and Rookie of the Month honors. In the 2012–13 season, he became the second-youngest Ducks player to record a hat-trick, doing so on February 28 in a 5–1 win over the Nashville Predators.

Palmieri's first full-time NHL season came in 2013–14, when he set career highs in goals, assists, and points (31 points in 71 games). He played through a shoulder injury during the 2013 playoffs and was pulled from the lineup in Game 4 of the first round against the Dallas Stars, returning in Game 3 of the second round against the Los Angeles Kings. After five seasons with Anaheim, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for second- and third-round draft picks in the 2015 NHL entry draft.

Reader's Guide

Kyle Palmieri's tenure with the Anaheim Ducks is notable for his development from a first-round draft pick into a full-time NHL forward. Drafted 26th overall in 2009, he spent his early professional years honing his game in the AHL, where he led the league in goals at the time of his recall in December 2011 and was named AHL Rookie of the Month in March 2011. His NHL debut was memorable: he scored his first career goal in an overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 3, 2010. Palmieri's 2012–13 season included a hat-trick that made him the second-youngest Ducks player to achieve that feat. His first full NHL season, 2013–14, saw him set career highs with 31 points while playing on the top line alongside Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf after an injury to Dustin Penner. Palmieri also contributed in the playoffs, scoring three goals in nine games during the 2014 postseason. His time with Anaheim ended after five seasons when he was traded to the New Jersey Devils for draft picks in 2015, marking the conclusion of his development within the Ducks organization.

Did You Know?

• Palmieri scored his first NHL goal in his debut game on November 3, 2010, against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
• He became the second-youngest Ducks player to record a hat-trick on February 28, 2013, against the Nashville Predators.
• Palmieri was released from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program for violating team rules.
• His godfather is former shortstop Bud Harrelson, who is his father's cousin.