Islanders trade for Jean-Gabriel Pageau of Ottawa, then sign him to six-year deal

Lou Lamoriello had plenty to say about acquiring Jean-Gabriel Pageau from the Ottawa Senators and little to say about Zach Parise, who remains with the Minnesota Wild.

It was a busy NHL trade deadline day on Monday for the Islanders’ president and general manager, who bolstered the team’s production and defense over the course of eight days.

“It’s such an honor for me,” said the Ottawa-born Pageau, who was in his seventh full season with the Senators. “I couldn’t be more excited to be on a team competing every year for the playoffs, for a championship.”

Pageau and the Islanders hope his international work papers can be arranged in time for him to play against the Rangers on Tuesday night at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum.

He was acquired for a conditional first-round pick in 2020, a second-round pick in 2020 and a conditional third-round pick in 2022. Pageau also agreed to a six-year, $30 million extension with a no-trade clause for the first two seasons and a limited no-trade clause over the final four years.

“We felt that, with our lineup, to solidify down the middle, we need a center-ice man, in particular a right-hand shot,” Lamoriello said on a conference call. “They are very few and far between. When you’re looking at center, you try to get a complete player who can play in all situations and, certainly, this man fits the bill.”

Lamoriello was less forthcoming about multiple reports that he had engaged in trade talks with the Wild about Parise, whose 13-year, $98 million deal runs through 2025. Andrew Ladd, who has three additional seasons remaining on a seven-year, $38.5 million deal, was expected to be part of the package returned to Minnesota.

Wild GM Bill Guerin acknowledged exploring a Parise deal and called it “complicated.”

Said Lamoriello, “Until it materializes, it’s not close.”

Pageau, 27, had 24 goals and 16 assists in 60 games as he centered the Senators’ top line. He immediately becomes the Islanders’ leading goal-scorer and is third on the team in points.

He is likely to slot in as a third-line center behind Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson and also can be used as a penalty-killer and on the power play.

“I can’t guarantee to the team I’m going to score goals or anything, but I’m going to bring my 110% every day to do my best,” Pageau said. “I’m going to take the role they give me and, whatever they give me, I’m going to take it seriously.”

Fourth-line center Casey Cizikas (left leg laceration) has been out since Feb. 11 and was expected to miss three to four weeks.

Lamoriello also acquired defenseman Andy Greene on Feb. 16 after top-pair blueliner Adam Pelech suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury on Jan. 2.

In the unlikely event the Islanders wind up with a top-three pick in this year’s NHL Draft, the first-round pick they are sending to the Senators will slide to 2021.

The Senators will receive the third-round pick only if the Islanders win the Stanley Cup this season.

Pageau, in the last season of a three-year, $9.3 million deal, could not come to new terms with the Senators and said the trade process was difficult.

“I was puking,” he said. “It was stressful. I’m glad it’s over now and I can focus on my goal, which is winning.”

Notes & quotes: The Islanders also swapped minor-league forward Matt Lorito to the Maple Leafs for minor-league defenseman Jordan Schmaltz . . . Rookie forwards Kieffer Bellows and Otto Koivula were returned to Bridgeport to maintain their AHL eligibility, but Koivula immediately was recalled . . . Ladd also was recalled from Bridgeport and Lamoriello said he will remain on the Islanders’ roster for the rest of the season . . . Cal Clutterbuck (left wrist), out since Dec. 19, completed a two-game AHL conditioning assignment, and Lamoriello said he will rejoin the Islanders for Tuesday’s morning skate.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.