Overview
- Jean-Gabriel Pageau re-signed for three years at $14.55 million (AAV $4.85 million) with a no-trade clause in the first two seasons.
- New York acquired Brayden Schenn for first- and third-round picks plus Jonathan Drouin and prospect goalie Marcus Gidlof; he waived a modified no-trade clause and is signed at $6.5 million AAV through 2028.
- Coach Patrick Roy slotted Schenn as the second-line center with Ondrej Palat and Calum Ritchie and put him on the top power-play unit, while Pageau centered a checking line with Anders Lee and Simon Holmstrom.
- Saturday’s lineup featured six natural centers, with Bo Horvat on the top line, Schenn at 2C, Pageau at 3C, Casey Cizikas on the fourth line, and Mathew Barzal and Cal Ritchie playing on the wings.
- Local reporting frames these as moves that must deliver, given the multi-year commitments and the aim of translating added center depth into playoff success.