After standing pat at the trade deadline a year ago, New York Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello stressed that he didn’t believe in making a deal just to get a new player or two.
It had to be for the right players who would improve the team.
Lamoriello had the same message Monday after acquiring center Jean-Gabriel Pageau from Ottawa at this year’s deadline. The move came eight days after the addition of defenseman Andy Greene from New Jersey.
New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) celebrates after his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, in Uniondale, NY. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)
“I think the message to our players in both years is we believe in them and we will always try and make the team better,” Lamoriello said on a conference call.
“You have to be careful at the given time what the needs are and who the type of player is that you want in there and you target that. And if you don’t get that player, you don’t just 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.”
That’s a big step for an Islanders team that had frustrated some fans by failing to make significant moves at the deadline in recent years. However, when Lamoriello was hired in May 2018, he vowed to change the culture of a team that had missed the playoffs for the eighth time in 11 seasons.
New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) skates with the puck as Detroit Red Wings left wing Andreas Athanasiou (72) pursues during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)
He’s done just that.
Last season, the Islanders spent a big chunk of the season at the top of the Metropolitan Division before finishing second. They swept Pittsburgh in the first round of the playoffs when everything seemed to be going their way, then got swept by Carolina when they struggled to score.
This season, New York had a stellar start that featured a franchise-record 17-game point streak (15-0-2) before cooling off and shuffling between third place in the division and the Eastern Conference’s two wild cards in recent weeks — even briefly falling out of a playoff spot entirely.
New York Islanders right wing Jordan Eberle (7) celebrates with center Mathew Barzal (13) after Eberle scored his second goal of the night against the Detroit Red Wings, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP PhotoKathy Willens)
“I’ve heard only good things about the Islanders,” said the 27-year-old Pageau, who agreed to a six-year, $30 million extension following the trade. “I couldn’t be more excited to go on a team that’s going to be competing every year for a playoff, for a championship. ... As a player, that’s what we play for, that’s what drives us.”
While Greene was brought on to help a defensive unit that was weakened after Adam Pelech’s season-ending Achilles injury last month, Pageau bolsters the Islanders in the middle. He will likely center the third line behind Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson, with Casey Cizikas on the fourth line once he heals up after a laceration on his left leg.
Pageau comes to New York after putting up a career-high 24 goals and 40 points — just three shy of his best — in 60 games with Ottawa this season. He had four goals and five assists on the power play, and three goals and three assists short-handed.
“It solidifies down the middle for a good period of time,” Lamoriello said. “(Pageau) is a player who fits right in with 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. ... I don’t think there were many people out there that could have filled this need, and we were fortunate to get one of them that could.”
Lamoriello wasn’t concerned that Pageau’s extension — which comes after the team re-signed captain Anders Lee and fellow forwards Nelson and Jordan Eberle to big deals last summer — would be a hindrance this summer when Barzal and defensemen Ryan Pulock and Devon Toews are restricted free agents.
“We’ll worry about that when the time comes,” Lamoriello said. “We certainly have every intention of signing our restricted free agents.”
Pageau was expected to join the Islanders on Tuesday ahead of their home game against the rival New York Rangers, but both he and Lamoriello were unsure if all the paperwork would be filed and approved in time for the newcomer to make his debut.
“I know playing the Rangers is a big rivalry,” said Pageau, who had four goals against the Rangers in a 2017 playoff game. “Obviously it’d be an exciting start to play the game.”
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