Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Senators Season Recap
Dec 12, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) during warmup prior to game against Buffalo Sabres at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Jean-Gabriel Pageau had an impossible act to follow at the start of the 2013-14 season – his own. After becoming an instant legend with his hat trick against the Montreal Canadiens and the entirety of Scotiabank Place (now Canadian Tire Centre) serenading him, it was inevitable that he would not live up to that hype.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau started the season in Ottawa after a solid pre-season, and beat Mika Zibanejad out for a spot on the roster. After appearing in 8 games and recording just a single goal, he was sent to Binghamton in late October. He was recalled again in early October, for a 13 game stint in which he managed to score one more goal. His final callup at season’s end saw him get into 7 more games at the end of March into April.
All in all, he played 28 games in a Senators uniform recording 2 goals and no assists, and a -5 rating. He averaged just over 10 minutes per game.
THE GOOD
- Played well enough to get on the opening day roster and earn 2 other callups.
THE BAD
- Failed to match the offensive output of his first taste of NHL action.
- Didn’t do enough to stay in the Senators lineup on a regular basis
CONTRACT STATUS
Jean-Gabriel Pageau will be entering the final year of his entry level contract in 2014-15.
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PROGNOSIS
With Mark Stone and even Mike Hoffman seemingly jumping ahead (or remaining ahead) of Pageau on the depth chart of the Senators, it might be tough for Pageau and his waiver-exempt status to stick in the NHL this season. Expect another season of bouncing up and down like a rubber ball.
GRADE – D – Expectations were impossible to match and unfair to the player, but Jean-Gabriel Pageau didn’t do enough to help himself when opportunities were given.