You should not have had spear pull at those relatively balmy Winter temps. Could be lack of proper soil drainage and excessive rsin/snow. Not sure where you are but cold hardiness can be complicated matter. Needles are the cold hardiest palms period, but they are also Summer heat lovers. Some plants that are cold hardy in frigid Eastern Winters, for example, may experience problems in milder Winter areas of the Pacific NW because of a relative lack of high Summer heat. In any case, improved soil drainage will help things and at least Needles freely sucker so they should recuperate. Good luck!

Was it a blue pot palm?

Some of these palms out of(southern)greenhouses are pushed
quite hard for growth-fertilizers and high temps.

They end up being less hardy but(if they live)will regain there
hardiness.

Like njoasis said though-

"You should not have had spear pull at those relatively balmy Winter temps."

Yes this is a very unusual phenomenon. But maybe not as unsual as you think. You may have a fungus. I purchased a Needle Palm from a Home Depot in North Florida and noticed several of their stock had exactly what you described. Spear pull and hollow crowns but the rest of the palm healthy looking and green. Concerned I even tugged on a couple spears and they pulled easily. I purchased one I thought was healthy but it developed a fungus. I have 2 other needles planted close proximity that are fine. Black spot developed on the Needle purchased from Home Depot with damage showing from the emerging spear. You may want to treat the crown for fungus...... and be patient if the rest of the palm is green. Wait, and it should recover. If your leaves start to darken with fungus, treat.

I had that happen. The suckers will survive. But needle palms really need protection the first couple years. They grow slow and are slow to acclimate. Especially from a greenhouse to freezing temperatures.

This happened to me two years in a row. Last years winter temp was 14 degrees. This year i protectd the palm with heat and the temp never got lower than 20 degrees. Both palms came in blue pots.

There is another needle palm on my street that is never protected and survives every year

It may have been rot due to prolonged wet conditions as oppsed to the cold. I know they are rated as more cold hardy then Sabal Minor but my experience is that Sabal Minor do better.

Thanks for all of the responses. Yes, these were the ones purchased in the blue pots. We did have a lot of rain and more snow than normal. Two were in an area that gets a lot of water run off from my neighbors yard and I have heavy clay soil. I do have one sabal minor in the ground and it suffered no damage. I may need to go with all sabal minors. Anyone have any suggestions on improving the clay soil for better drainage?

I usually start with a big 3'x2' hole. In the bottom I will use a mixture of clay and amended soil mix, like compost and sand. Then towards the top I go with all compost and sand mix. But I to live on a hill and rain water will pool around my garden about 3" deep.

Some of the palms from southern growers just need
to get their new leaves/acclimated to the new home.

They will eventually harden off in the new environment.

How did your Washys make out this year?

I dug the palms up and put them in pots to see if they will do better at recovering. They are looking ok for now. I will definitely try amending the soil when putting them back down. Thanks for the tip chadec.

Jim - my washy on the south side of the house did great. I'll try to post a pic here soon as it is producing new fronds like crazy. Unfortunately the two washys I had by the patio didn't make it. I'm guessing root rot is the reason for their demise. I did dig them up as well and put them into pots also. I was reading another thread about cutting the trunk down past the rot and pouring in peroxide. I tried it but I don't have much hope :(