#Jean-Gabriel Pageau starting to mesh with Islanders teammates

The novel coronavirus pandemic turned everyone’s life upside down. For Jean-Gabriel Pageau, it created havoc.

He was already going through a new transition, playing for a new team in a new country after being traded to the Islanders in February. Then hockey stopped due to the virus.

“It was definitely a different feeling how it all happened,” he said during a Zoom call on Saturday. “It happened so quick.”

There was one bonus it has provided: a chance to really get to know his teammates and the system the Islanders play during this mini training camp. There really wasn’t time for that in the seven games he played upon coming over from the Senators and signing a six-year, $30 million extension with the Islanders.

“It’s a huge benefit for sure. It gets me time to spend with the guys. I get to know them a little more. Get to practice more, too, with the team,” the 27-year-old Pageau, acquired in exchange for conditional first-round pick in 2020, a second-round pick in 2020 and a conditional third-rounder in 2022, said. “That’s something that during the year you don’t usually have a lot of time for. It really helps me.”

It’s only been practice and a few scrimmages, but Pageau’s teammates and coach Barry Trotz have liked what they have seen since the team returned to the ice together. Pageau provides them with a quality third line pivot, a center that offers depth and enables Derick Brassard and Josh Bailey to go back to where Troz feels they fit better. The Isles had been forced to mix and match at center before landing Pageau.

“You can see he’s more natural there,” Trotz said. “I thought [Saturday] Pag looked much more comfortable. He’s starting to look way more comfortable.”

At the time of the trade, he was having a career year, producing a career-best 24 goals and 16 assists. In seven games with the Isles, he had scored twice, without notching an assist. Now, after this long layoff, he may be better prepared to make a difference.

“Anybody who got traded at the deadline for any team in this tournament, I think they’re going to benefit from it,” Trotz said. “I don’t think you’re yourself until you have a number of games and a training camp. I think this is the best thing, not only for Pag, but anybody who got traded during the deadline.”