Entering the 2019-20 NHL season, Jean-Gabriel Pageau wasn’t expected to garner much attention among the 2020 unrestricted free agent class.
Not that the 27-year-old Ottawa Senators center lacks value. Since his nine-game NHL debut in 2012-13, he’s garnered a reputation as a hardworking, two-way forward. He excels on the penalty kill, can play center or on the wing, and agitates opponents. He’s a spark-plug player that every team wants on their roster.
Now in his contract year, however, Pageau has elevated his play through the opening weeks of this season. With 11 goals and 15 points in 20 games, he’s the Senators’ leading scorer.