Alright, this is a fairly easy grade, I think we’ll all agree on that one. But, I’ll keep it short, sweet and to the point. I gotta have some kinda article you know.
The former Ottawa Senator made an immediate impact in his debut with the Islanders. The front office and coaching staff thought so highly of him, that he received a six-year, $30 million contract before he could even get his work visa for the states. That tells you a lot about what the Islanders organization thinks of him, and he proved it immediately. In his debut game, an overtime loss to the New York Rangers, Pageau would have a second period goal to put the Islanders within one. In the third, he would then take a 2-5-10 roughing, fighting, and misconduct penalty for pursuing Jacob Trouba for dropping a heavy hit on the Islanders blue line. Lets not forget, he ripped another Islander AWAY FROM TROUBA to fight him. It took him less than 60 minutes to understand what it means to be an Islander. Only playing in seven more games before the season cancellation, Pageau would score one more goal.
Come the playoffs, Pageau would amp up his game, scoring 8 goals and 3 assists through 22 playoff games, being a key role for the Islanders deep playoff run this past season. Islanders fans will be thrilled to have this type of player for six years, and it would not come as a shock to any if we saw JGP don the “A” in the near future.
Grade: A+