Jean-Gabriel Pageau has always been a very steady and reliable hockey player. While never touted as an offensive dynamo, he plays hard and competes night in and night out. Pageau was a product of the QMJHL and spent three seasons between Gatineau and Chicoutimi before being drafted by his hometown Ottawa Senators in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

In the 2012-13 season he would play for Ottawa's farm team the Binghamton Senators almost exclusively. His play was praised by many in the organization and would eventually earn him a late-season call up. Dubbed the "Baby Sens", this season's team was known for their slew of young players who were called up to the team from Binghamton. Pageau's terrific two-way game mixed with his speed, skill, and high work-rate made him a perfect fit for Ottawa's bottom-six. 

It wouldn't take long for Pageau to become a fan favorite in the nation's capital. The Sens snuck into the playoffs as the seventh seed and earned a date with the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs. The Sens would go on to shock the Habs, eliminating them in just five games. In Game 5, Pageau would have one of his most memorable games in his career, posting a hat trick in a 6-1 blowout. Unfortunately, the Sens would be ousted by the Penguins the next round, but Pageau made a hell of a first impression with his team and its fanbase in his first opportunity. 

For the next two seasons, Pageau would continue to bounce back and forth between Binghamton and Ottawa. The 2015-16 campaign would make the first full season with Ottawa. Pageau played in all 82 games and posted a respectable 43-point campaign, which to this day is still a career best. He often found himself centering a line between wingers Mark Stone and Zach Smith, and the three had some nice chemistry. Aside from the offense, Pageau also began making headway on his faceoff game, winning 52.2% of his draws that season. He also laid out 166 hits which still remains his highest total in a year. 

The following year was more of the same for Pageau. While only posting 33 points, he still was doing all the little things right that don't show up on the scoresheet and was beloved by his then-coach Guy Boucher. The Senators would end up with 98 points on the year and finish second in the Atlantic Division. The playoff run that followed was an epic one. After eliminating the Bruins in six, the Sens would face the Rangers in the second round. The Sens would jump out to a 1-0 series lead and in Game 2, Pageau had another legendary playoff performance.

With a one goal in the game already, the Sens were down 5-3 with less than four minutes left in the game. Pageau incredibly scored on two tipped shots back-to-back and would force overtime. After a stalemate in the first bonus frame, the teams went into double-overtime. Just a few minutes into the period Pageau came streaking down the ice and wired one over Henrik Lundqvist's glove. The Canadian Tire Centre became unglued as the comeback win was complete. The win gave the Sens a commanding 2-0 series lead and they'd go on to knockout the Rangers in six games. This performance will be forever etched in Ottawa Senators history. 

The Senators would go on to the Eastern Conference Finals and play the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pageau and the Sens took the series to seven games, but in heartbreaking fashion, they lost 3-2 in double overtime to be eliminated. It was tough to see this team coming within a goal of the Stanley Cup Final. The Penguins would go on to win the Cup that year, and unfortunately for Ottawa's fans, it was all downhill after that, as the team was dismantled piece by piece. 

While his teammates were all shipped out, Pageau was awarded a three-year, $9.3 million contract. In those three seasons, Pageau toiled in mediocrity on a Sens team that was absolutely gutted. Pageau served as the last positive memory from when their team was a contender. The 2018-19 campaign was railroaded by injury when Pageau tore his Achilles tendon in training camp just weeks before the season was set to begin. 

After putting the previous year in the rear-view mirror, Pageau was entering the final year of his contract, and many expected him to be traded as a rental. Much to the delight of Sens management, Pageau bounced back wonderfully and had a breakout season offensively. Sure enough, at the trade deadline Pageau found himself shipped off to the New York Islanders. The Isles wasted no time, immediately inking Pageau to a six-year, $30 million dollar contract extension. In the COVID-shortened season, Pageau finished with a career-high 26 goals and was on pace to hit the 50-point plateau for his first time. 

Pageau didn't waste much time ingratiating himself to his new team, as he would chip in 11 points during the Islanders playoff run. The Isles performed quite well in the bubble. After ousting the Panthers in the play-in round, they would go onto take down the Capitals and Flyers before eventually falling in six games to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

That brings us to present-day, and the Islanders are again amongst the top teams in the Eastern Conference. A lot of that can be attributed to the play of Pageau, who seems to have found another gear. Through 33 games, Pageau has 11 goals, and 12 assists for 23 points. In an 82-game slate, he would be on pace for 57 points, which would easily be the best in his career. He is still only 50 percent owned in Yahoo leagues, which to me is shockingly underowned. One of the main knocks you have for Pageau from a fantasy perspective is that he isn't a volume shooter. He only averages around two shots per game which isn't great.

What he lacks in firing power, he certainly makes up for in pretty much everything else. He currently has a faceoff rate of 57.1% which is among the best in the league. He is averaging just under two hits per game, which is excellent. He also has seen more power play time than ever before in his career, being deployed for 41% of the man advantage. Also, if you are in a niche league that tracks shorthanded points, Pageau is somewhat of a shorthanded specialist, having consistently been atop the league lead in shorthanded points most seasons. 

If your league tracks categories like faceoff wins, hits and shorthanded points, Pageau is a must-add. In a league where the emphasis is more on pure scoring, I'd err on the side of caution. While I don't think Pageau will ever be a pure scorer, it's possible the 28-year-old still has some room to grow offensively. That being said, realize that he plays for the Islanders and coach Barry Trotz who are a defensive-oriented team first and foremost.