Pageau getting acclimated at Islanders training camp

Jean-Gabriel Pageau said the chance to participate in training camp will help him become more acclimated to his relatively new surroundings.

"It's a huge benefit for sure," said the forward, who was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 24. "It gets me some time to spend with the guys. I get to know them a little more, we get to practice more with the team, and that's something during the year you don't usually have a lot of time; practices are getting shorter and shorter as the season goes on. I think that little training camp and going all over the system again, I think it really helps me."

New York (35-23-10, .588 points percentage) enters the Stanley Cup Qualifiers as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and will play the No. 10 seed, the Florida Panthers (35-26-8, .565), beginning Aug. 1 in one of four best-of-5 series to be held at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the Eastern Conference hub city.

The winner will advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the loser will have a chance at the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft in the Second Phase of the NHL Draft Lottery, to be held Aug. 10.

"It was definitely a different feeling how it all happened; it happened so quick," Pageau said. "I played a few games here and then COVID-19 all happened, so I had to go back home and quarantine there. I was back in Ottawa, and I thought it was good. I spent some time with the wife, had time to look back at everything, and I'm really happy with the result. I'm excited to be here in Long Island. The group of guys, the organization, I feel like everyone's really pushing in the same direction to go win, and that's the feeling that I get."

Pageau has been centering the third line with his friend Derick Brassard at right wing in camp. Pageau and Brassard played together with Ottawa for two seasons, including when the Senators advanced to the Eastern Conference Final in 2017.

Islanders coach Barry Trotz has been trying different players at left wing, with Tom Kuhnhackl, Michael Dal Colle, Andrew Ladd and Kieffer Bellows among the options.

After the trade, the Islanders lost their final seven games (0-3-4) before the NHL season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronovairus.

"We're looking forward to getting 'Pager's' first win as an Islander," Brassard said jokingly. "Hopefully we can do it quick."

New York traded a conditional first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, a second-round pick in the 2020 draft, and a conditional third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft for Pageau, who then signed a six-year, $30 million contract.

The Islanders travel to Toronto next Sunday and will play the New York Rangers in an exhibition game July 29 before the Qualifiers begin.

"He's starting to look way more comfortable," Trotz said of Pageau. "I don't think you're yourself (after a trade) until you have a number of games and a training camp. I think this is actually the best thing for not only [Pageau], but anybody who got traded at the [NHL Trade Deadline]. It really helps guys to come together. They're not going out, they're staying together, practicing, they're doing all the other things, and now we're going to a hub city. If you ever wanted to get to learn about your teammates, the personalities, all that, the organization, there's no better time than this time."