NY Islanders: Are the Bruins possible trade partners after Bergeron's retirement?

NY Islanders could be willing to deal J.G. Pageau to Bruins

Pageau has been the center of Islanders trade rumors this offseason, most notably when New York was believed to be one of the final two teams in the Alex DeBrincat sweepstakes before he was dealt to the Detroit Red Wings. The former 2011 4th-round pick is coming off a season where he put up 40 points in 70 games - the most he's had as a full-time Islander. The biggest reason he was expected to be a piece on the move was that a player of DeBrincat's caliber would cost about $8 million per season, which is near what he received from Detroit - and Pageau only makes $3 million less against the cap. Also, as GM Lou Lamoriello has stated multiple times, the Islanders have five natural centers on the roster, so moving one for a winger would make sense. This does not necessarily mean Lamoriello wants to trade a center away, especially one as effective on both sides of the rink as Pageau.

If the Bruins were interested in acquiring the former Ottawa Senator, the question is what New York could get back in return. The other two members of the "Perfection Line" are likely out of the equation, but a player that should entice the Isles is Jake DeBrusk. DeBrusk has one more season left on his current contract at $4 million until he hits unrestricted free agency, where the Bruins could lose him for nothing if he does not want to extend. The former 2015 14th overall selection (two picks before Mathew Barzal) has requested a trade out of Boston multiple times in past years after not getting the playing time he wanted, but ended up rescinding his most recent request in 2022 and signed a two-year extension.