Soon after the New York Islanders spent their first two picks in this summer’s draft (plus a fancifully conditional third in 2022) to acquire Ottawa Senators center Jean-Gabriel Pageau, they were prepared to spend something much more to make him more of a rental, and add another pricey piece in Minnesota’s Zach Parise.
First, Pageau: According to multiple reporters via Twitter, the Islanders were closing in on a contract extension with their new center.
Pageau reportedly could not reach terms with the Senators on an extension he sought around 5 years and above $5 million per, but it’s possible “also I would be stuck in Ottawa” was a factor in him not accepting terms.