According to Pierre LeBrun, the Islanders are players for JG Pageau but at what cost? Would they be willing to part with a first-round pick?
JG Pageau is having a career year at the perfect time, right before he is set to hit free agency. Ottawa would be in their best interest to move him to get assets back, and the New York Islanders seem like one of the teams who would be in the mix.
Pageau is a center who has 32 points (20 goals, 12 assists) in 48 games. He would be the perfect option to plug on that third-line center role that’s been a major flaw for this team from day one.
Pierre LeBrun of The Atletic highlights the idea for the Islanders. He says it seems to make sense but he’s not sure if Lou Lamoriello would be willing to part with a first-round pick in order to land a rental.
While a first-round pick seems a little on the steep side, I’m not quite sure the options the Islanders have left. In the last six drafts, the Islanders have had eight first-round picks. That strategy hasn’t exactly worked for them.
Now, I’m not saying flip your first-round pick every year, that’s crazy town. All I’m saying is that when you are a playoff team and need a bump it’s okay to flip a first for someone who could push you over the top.
Pageau puts up points and is great defensively, it seems like a good fit for this team. Perhaps a lineup like this could work:
Lee – Barzal – Eberle
Beauvillier – Nelson – Bailey
Brassard – Pageau – Kuhnhackl
Martin – Cizikas – Komarov
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