The new GM has a few areas where he can make bigger moves with the roster this summer or at the trade deadline.
In the setup for the NHL’s premier showcase, we’re in the bizarrely quiet phase as we wait several days for the start of the Stanley Cup final rematch on Wednesday.
For the Islanders, it is the quiet between the naming (and introduction) of new GM Mathieu Darche and the NHL draft that will consume his focus until June 27-28.
There are of course other matters for Darche to attend to as well, including filling out staff (some may have been filled out/renewed before he arrived, though consider the source), doling out qualifying offers to RFAs and preparing for potential trades during draft weekend.
That last one is a topic for conversation and offseason roster speculation.
J-G Pageau is entering the final season of the six-year deal ($5M AAV) he signed in one of Lou Lamoriello’s first big in-season moves. I’ll always wonder whether his game dropped off after hand/wrist injuries, but regardless of whether that’s a factor, he’s ultimately a 12- to 14-goal guy.
The Athletic has him on the offseason trade board with this description and financial note:
Pageau is elite in the faceoff circle and a strong penalty killer who is due just $3.5 million in actual salary next season. He does own a 16-team no-trade clause.
There was some feeling that Pageau was able to shine more after Brock Nelson was traded, but really he was no more productive. He had a three-point game that trade deadline week but otherwise was his usual self, except with a couple more minutes of ice time per game.
He makes a nice PK combo/shorthanded threat with Simon Holmstrom, and he’s no longer all that expensive in this day and cap age. He’s probably not someone that a team targets in a big offseason acquisition, or rather he may carry nearly as much value as a rental at next season’s trade deadline.
And that’s probably the decision Darche faces with Pageau: Does he provide more value for the first 60 games of next season plus trade return (or hey, maybe continuing to contribute on a playoff-bound team), or as a trade piece for Darche’s first moves to put his stamp on the roster?
Islanders News
- Enjoy photos of some Islanders fellas from their respective scouting combines. [Isles]
- Podcast impressions of Darche’s first impression: Isles Fix | Island Ice
- Refreshingly, Darche answered lots of questions, and directly. [Athletic]
This could be true, but also the source “hearing” things could be, um, a hit-and-miss type:
Hearing Lou Lamiorello extended Assistant GM’s Chris Lamiorello and Steve Pellegrini with multi year extensions just prior to departing the organization. https://t.co/1UH3T5qvaT
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) May 30, 2025
Elsewhere
- The Panthers and Oilers anticipated a rematch, and believe they meet again with deeper, better squads. [NHL]
- Jake Oettinger aims to improve after falling flat against the Oilers. [NHL]
- How Paul Maurice keeps things light. [TSN]
- Bourne: The Leafs will need to get creative this offseason. [Sportsnet]
- Thousands showed up for a 5K in memory of the Gaudreau brothers. [NHL]
- Matt Duchene would like to stay with the Stars. [NHL]