Islanders stay aggressive, get Pageau in trade from Senators

The New York Islanders are going for it.

The message was conveyed loud and clear by general manager Lou Lamoriello, who in nine days filled two glaring needs, which had to be done if the Islanders plan to not only again qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but this time go on a serious run.
Hours before the 3 p.m. ET NHL Trade Deadline on Monday, the Islanders acquired center Jean-Gabriel Pageau from the Ottawa Senators for a conditional first-round draft pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, a second-round pick in 2020 and a conditional third-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft. Shortly after the trade, the Islanders and Pageau agreed to a six-year, $30 million contract.
The 27-year-old arrives in New York as its leading goal-scorer (24) and someone who can play in all situations; he has three shorthanded goals this season and four on the power play.
Pageau joins a group of centers that includes Mathew Barzal, Brock Nelson and Casey Cizikas, who is expected to miss another 1-2 weeks with a lacerated leg.
"We felt that with our lineup to solidify down the middle, we needed a center iceman, in particular a right shot, and they are very few and far between," Lamoriello said. "When you're looking at a center, you try and get a complete player that can play in all situations, and certainly this young man fit the bill."

It's the second trade for the Islanders since last week; they acquired defenseman Andy Greene from the New Jersey Devils for a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and defenseman prospect David Quenneville on Feb. 16. Greene has provided balance among the top six after Adam Pelech, arguably the Islanders' top shutdown defenseman, sustained an Achilles injury prior to their game against the Devils at Nassau Coliseum on Jan. 2.
Lamoriello, who was Devils GM from 1987-2015, signed Greene as an undrafted free agent in 2006. Greene was named captain at the start of the 2015-16 season, a position he held until being traded to the Islanders.
Pageau was an alternate captain with the Senators and should fit seamlessly into a culture Lamoriello and coach Barry Trotz have established that revolves around defense, character and chemistry.
Each new acquisition has shown he can play on the big stage. Greene helped New Jersey reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2012; Pageau had 10 points (eight goals, two assists)) in 19 playoff games for the Senators when they reached Game 7 of the 2017 Eastern Conference Final before losing in double overtime to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"Andy Greene, I certainly know pretty well and what he brings each and every night and also what he brings to chemistry, what he brings to character and the role that he can play," Lamoriello said. "I think we all know who he is, so that to me was extremely important, especially being a positional left shot who also has played the right side quite a bit.
"Certainly the addition today is a player that fits right in as far as who we are, the way we play and the style we play. I don't think there will be much of an adjustment period for him. We certainly watched him enough, played against him, our coaches know him. Without question we feel there were holes that we were able to fill with players that wouldn't take any period of time to adjust."
RELATED: [NHL Trade Tracker | Pageau traded to Islanders, agrees to six-year contract]
The Islanders (35-20-6) had a 17-game point streak earlier this season (Oct. 12 to Nov. 23), the longest in their history, but are 19-17-4 since. They are tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference entering their game against the New York Rangers at Nassau Coliseum on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, MSG+ 2, MSG, NHL.TV).
But six points separate the top five teams in the Metropolitan Division, where the Islanders are tied for fourth with the Blue Jackets, one point behind the third-place Philadelphia Flyers. With home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs up for grabs, Lamoriello wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away.
Pageau said he can't get wait to get started. As long as all the necessary paperwork is completed, he'll make his Islanders debut against their biggest rival.
"Obviously they were a hard team to play against, and now just to be a part of that team, it's something that I'm excited [about]," Pageau said. "I haven't really had the chance to look at where I would fit, but the only thing I can say hockeywise is I can't guarantee I'm going to score goals or anything, but there's one thing: I'm going to bring 110 percent every day to try to do my best. That's all I can control.
"I'm going to take the role that they give me, whatever role it is, I'm going to take it seriously. My heart's going to go right now to [Long Island], and I'm going to give it my all."

This is a far cry from a year ago, when the Islanders, who exceeded the expectations of many as a playoff team, stood pat prior to the deadline. Even without any additions, they finished second in the Metropolitan and reached the second round of the playoffs.
Perhaps the needs weren't as glaring as they were this time around, particularly up front. The Islanders recently lost four in a row on the road, scoring two goals. Center Derick Brassard, who sustained an upper-body injury during a game at the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, has two goals since Dec. 17. His close friend is coming from Ottawa to try to fill the void.
"When you make a move or you don't make a move, there's always a reason, not an excuse why you did or didn't do it," Lamoriello said. "You have to be careful at the given time what the needs are and who the type of players is that you would want in there, and you target that. If you don't get that player, you just don't make a move for the sake of doing it. Last year, we would have made a move if we could've gotten the player that maybe we felt could've added and not just been another player.
"Fortunately for us this year, we were able to get that player in that position, so I think the message to the players in both years was we believed in them and we will always try and make the team better."
There's little doubt Lamoriello has done that in recent days. The Islanders are going for it.
"I couldn't be more excited just to go on a team that's going to be competing every year for a playoff [berth] or for a championship," Pageau said. "I couldn't be more excited as a player. That's what we play for, that's what drives us. That's why I'm excited to go and play for them."