J.G. Pageau believes the New York Islanders are in a place where they have the chance to win with each passing season.
Pageau, who signed a six-year extension with the organization after the Isles g.m. Lou Lamoriello traded for him at the trade deadline back in late February, told an Ottawa newspaper there are reasons for it while touching on several other topics.
“The whole team should look the same over the next few years and for fans and for the team, it’s encouraging to have come this far,” the 27-year-old said to leDroit. “We have a team that has a chance to win year after year.”
Pageau’s feeling about the Islanders comes after the team made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 27 years. They were ousted in six games by the Cup winners — the Tampa Bay Lightning — who actually won it all last night over the Dallas Stars.
“I can’t wait to start training again,” Pageau added. “The end of the season that we had, it makes me hungry to continue to work hard. I can’t wait to have my next chance to win the cup with this team, â€he said.
The Ottawa native has been in this position before too when it comes to seeing a bright future for his club after they almost reached the pinnacle. Pageau was a member of the 2017 Ottawa Senators who went on a wonderful run that ended with a game seven loss in the Conference Final to the eventual champion Pittsburgh Penguins; that team was dismantled by g.m. Pierre Dorion after that run. Pageau’s current club is in a much different spot. They are still very much at the beginning of their window being open even with most of the organization’s core all in their late-20s and early-30s.
But then there’s what the Isles do have. Which is, players still in their early 20s — Mathew Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier, Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield, Devon Toews, etc. — who have now been together for almost three years now while also gaining huge experience from the last two years with long playoff runs. A 25-year-old goalie in Ilya Sorokin — who was the best goaltender not on this side of the pond now signed for next season — and is expected to be the franchise’s future in goal. Some top prospects coming soon (Oliver Wahlstrom, Kieffer Bellows) and a defensive system which has made the team improve by a mile the last two seasons. Add in the GM of the Year in Lamoriello, arguably the best coach in the NHL, Barry Trotz, and the culture those two have instilled in the franchise since they arrived, and it’s easy to spot why Pageau feels so highly about the team’s future.
Now, Lamoriello does some work to do this offseason to validate what Pageau sees. This means finding a way to add cap space — the team only has just over $8 million to work with — while trying to add a quintessential piece or two to the puzzle. He too has to get the team’s most important RFAs, Barzal, Pulock and Toews, all signed. If he can maneuver his way through all that, there’s no doubt the Isles will be ready to roll come time puck drops in late December or early January.
Still, the enthusiasm oozing out of Pageau, already a fan-favorite, shouldn’t be taken lightly.
The Islanders’ franchise has taken monumental steps in the last couple of years. And, it’s only going to continue to get better on and off the ice. Pageau is, and has already been, a major part of that. He believes this team can be a consistent winner.
They are on the right path to do it too.