![\"Islanders](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KK1_3195-e1712111666572.jpg\" "\\"Despite")
Simon Holmstrom (left) celebrates his goal with JG Pageau. (Kevin Kane\/KK Images)<\/p>\nELMONT, NY \u2014\u00a0Pete DeBoer is as well-traveled an NHL head coach as they come, but over the last decade, whether it was in his stint with the San Jose Sharks or Vegas Golden Knights, or Dallas Stars, there always seemed to be one constant: Jean-Gabriel Pageau.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No, Pageau had never played for DeBoer. He always just so happened to be the white whale of the general managers who were looking to swing a difference-making trade at the deadline before a playoff run.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe checks so many boxes: Face-offs, power play, penalty kill,\u201d DeBoer said. \u201cYou can stick him anywhere, and he\u2019s going to help.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
The stars finally aligned for DeBoer when he took the New York Islanders\u2019 head-coaching gig with four games left last season, and he\u2019s having a field day deploying the veteran center as he sees fit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pageau has had a revolving door of linemates throughout his Islanders career, but this year has featured a significant gap in age difference. On opening night, he was working with 20-year-old Victor Eklund, which isn\u2019t necessarily anything new.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Regardless of the regime behind the bench, Pageau has often been placed with younger players because he sets the right example as a vet who prides himself on the little details of the game. General manager Mathieu Darche went as far as to label Pageau as the Islanders\u2019 \u201cmost consistent forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe plays the right way; he doesn\u2019t complain,\u201d Darche added. \u201cHe helps the young guys. He\u2019s a great veteran to have on the team.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Over the previous two seasons, he was practically attached to the hip of Simon Holmstrom, who has developed from a promising prospect to a reliable, all-around forward currently playing on the first line with Bo Horvat and Kyle Palmieri.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe made a huge difference for me in how easy it was to play with him,\u201d Holmstrom said. \u201cEveryone who plays with Pager feels how easy it is to play with him and the confidence that he gives you. He always told me to do my stuff out there and to hang on to pucks and be strong on it and play with confidence. So he helps a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon Holmstrom (left) celebrates his goal with JG Pageau. (Kevin Kane\/KK Images)<\/p>\n