JG Pageau needs to score more as the NY Islanders number two center

When the New York Islanders traded Brock Nelson, everyone on the roster had to step up, but some would need to step up more than others. JG Pageau fits into the latter category as the one tasked with being the team's No. 2 center, a role Nelson had played as well as anyone in the league over the last six seasons. The results, thus far, have been mixed.

Perhaps if Mathew Barzal was healthy, head coach Patrick Roy would have other options and Pageau would've remained the swiss-army-knife third liner that can contribute offensively, but doesn't have to score regularly for the team to win. However, in Barzal's absence, Pageau has had to try to fill that role and although in some aspects he has, the offensive production hasn't come with it.

In the 11 games since the Nelson trade, Pageau, centering Anders Lee and Anthony Duclair has one goal and six assists. That point production doesn't sound terrible, but he scored a goal and two assists in the first game against the San Jose Sharks and has just four assists and no goals since.

“If we would get outshot every game, then I think you start to worry about what you can do better,” Pageau said in Newsday earlier this week. “But if the chances are there, I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. They’re going to start going in."

They haven't started going in yet, and for a team that is so dependent on its play at even strength to score goals and win hockey games, it needs more offensive output from Pageau to make up for its lack of prowess on the power play. In recent games, the team has relied on Bo Horvat getting hot and scoring from their blue line, but they need offensive production from their interim second-line center down the stretch of the season.

Pageau is still playing his responsible, complete 200-foot-game that he's done night in and night out throughout his career and Islanders tenure. He's contributing on the penalty kill, winning face-offs as he always has for the team. However, the moment calls for a little bit more from him as the No. 2 center in the post-Nelson world with Barzal not an option.