EAST MEADOW, NY — It became clear after Jean-Gabriel Pageau joined the New York Islanders that his game and leadership had a positive effect on younger, less experienced players.
I’ve talked to Pageau about it as recently as this past season, and although he’d love to have stable linemates, it’s an honor for him to be entrusted by the organization the way he has been.
From Simon Holmstrom to Maxim Shabanov, and countless others, Pageau has been the guy, making it anything but shocking that the organization believed stapling top forward prospect Victor Eklund to his wing was the right approach.
Eklund, the No. 16 pick at the 2025 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut in Game No. 82 last season and is doing all he can to win a roster spot this fall.
He’s been dynamic since main camp opened, carrying over the confidence we saw when he scorched rookie camp.
“Well, he looks good,” Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer said. “You don’t want to get out in front of it too far. I think we’ve still got a lot of runway here, and he’s going to play some exhibition games against NHL teams, which is important.
“But he’s scored in every game that we’ve stuck him in — the two rookie games, today in the scrimmage — so he’s just got to continue on that path. But again, it’s early. But that’s what you want. You want young players to make those decisions as tough as possible.”
I asked DeBoer about placing Eklund with Pageau and the effect they hope it has.
“Well, I think, like Ritchie with Schenn, you want that veteran presence around those young players,” DeBoer said. “It just helps the communication on the bench, shift to shift, the little things, the communication on the ice.
“I think the veteran guys we have have that experience, and they were young guys once. They understand how helpful it is when you’re put in that situation, and they’re taking real pride in that mentorship, I think.”
Pageau and Eklund spoke exclusively with The Elmonters about one another.