Can Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s Plus Side Enough for the New York Islanders?

Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s Plus Side May Not Be Enough to Offset His Minus

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Pageau is much better than most observers think. He’s a smart player who avoids making those awful gaffes that lead to silly turnovers. While his minus-8 rating last season may indicate otherwise, it’s worth pointing out that the entire club struggled with playing solid defense last year.

That being said, Pageau is one of the best third-line centers in the NHL. He’s defensively responsible enough to where he can be trusted in virtually any situation. Also, he produces enough offensively to warrant a more prominent role, especially when the top six need a break.

Since arriving in New York, Pageau has been productive. His numbers for 2021-22 and 2022-23 were nearly identical. However, last season showed some regression on his part. Again, that outcome could be chalked up to the struggles the entire team faced before Patrick Roy’s arrival.

This upcoming season, Pageau will be looked upon to return to the 40-point plateau he reached in 2022-23. We know that he’s capable of breaking the 20-goal mark, as he scored 24 in 2019-20 with the Ottawa Senators.

If things go well, Pageau could have a breakout year. I know that sounds somewhat strange to say about a 31-year-old - but it could be that spending the year with Anders Lee and Pierre Engvall ignites some chemistry, leading to a highly effective third line.

Then again, there’s the defensive role that the third line is expected to play. Engvall is a defensive-minded winger while Lee provides scoring and physicality. If Pageau can use his instincts to read plays and generate chances, opponents could find it quite tough to play against a balanced Islanders lineup.

At the very least, the Isles know they can get 15 goals and 30 to 40 points from Pageau. That’s not bad considering that he’s a third-line center at this point in his career, potentially moving down the lineup as other prospects rise through the ranks.