Nick Palmieri
A hard-shooting winger whose NHL journey was defined by a single, unforgettable playoff goal for the New Jersey Devils.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: July 12·Millennials
Biography
Nick Palmieri's hockey story is one of a specific moment eclipsing a longer career. The New York-born right wing, drafted by the New Jersey Devils in 2007, was a powerful forward known for his size and shot. His path to the NHL was steady, progressing through the minors before making his debut in the 2010-11 season. While he played for several organizations, including Minnesota and the New York Rangers, his legacy is cemented in a flash during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the rival New York Rangers, Palmieri fired a third-period goal that proved to be the series-clincher, sending the Devils to the final. That goal became the defining highlight of his professional tenure, which later included stints in Europe before his retirement.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Nick was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Nick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored the series-clinching goal for the New Jersey Devils in Game 5 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals.
- Drafted in the third round, 79th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
- Played 110 regular-season games in the NHL, recording 13 goals and 13 assists.
Did You Know?
He played college hockey for the Erie Otters and Kitchener Rangers in the OHL, not the NCAA.
His first NHL goal was scored against future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur in a Devils intra-squad scrimmage.
He is a cousin of former NHL player and current executive Eric Joyce.
“My job is to get to the net and finish; everything else is noise.”
