NY Islanders to stay pesky by extending center JG Pageau for three years

Pageau, Pageau, Pageau!

The New York Islanders will remain as pesky as ever the next three years.

The Islanders announced they’ve signed the veteran center JG Pageau to a three-year contract extension beginning in the 2026-27 season, ensuring that one of the team’s most trusted two-way players remains a key part of the lineup.

If you’ve watched the Islanders this season, this deal makes perfect sense.

Pageau has quietly been one of the most reliable players on the roster. This season alone, the 33-year-old has put up 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) in 55 games while doing the little things that help teams win. He leads the Islanders with six shorthanded points and three shorthanded goals, continues to dominate in the faceoff circle with a 60.1 percent win rate, and carries a scorching 23.3 percent shooting percentage.

In other words: Pageau still produces — and still does all the gritty, detail-oriented work that coaches love.

Across his career with the Islanders and Ottawa Senators, Pageau has played 852 NHL games, scoring 173 goals and adding 222 assists. His 24 shorthanded goals rank among the best totals among active NHL players, a testament to his defensive instincts and hockey IQ.

Islanders fans also know what Pageau brings when the games matter most. In 86 career playoff games, he has produced 43 points and two hat tricks. During the Islanders’ memorable 2020-21 run to the Stanley Cup semifinal, he was a key piece with 13 postseason points.

Since arriving in the 2020 trade with Ottawa, Pageau has become part of the Islanders’ identity — responsible, competitive, and clutch when needed.

And now Islanders fans know something else: No. 44 will be around for a while longer.