The year 2020 has been a wild one, to say the least. COVID-19 threw the hockey world, and the whole world, into flux.
For the New York Islanders, there were plenty of good and bad, up and down, times this year. From a run to the Eastern Conference Finals to the departure of a talented defenseman, 2020 was filled with plenty of headlines for the Isles.
So before the New Year is upon us, let’s take a look back at some of the biggest stories from this past year.
The Islanders acquire Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Prior to this past season, Lou Lamoriello had made only one trade since taking over as general manager and president of hockey operations for the New York Islanders in 2018. That changed in a big way at the 2020 NHL trade deadline in March.
First, Lamoriello traded for defenseman Andy Greene in mid-February, and then he made the big one. Lamoriello traded a haul of draft picks for Jean-Gabriel Pageau in the team’s biggest deadline deal since Garth Snow acquired Ryan Smyth in 2007.
Pageau proceeded to sign a six-year, $30 million extension with the Islanders before he even stepped foot on Long Island.
“I’ve heard only good things about the Islanders and to have the chance to be joining the team is such an honor for me.” Pageau said in March. “I couldn’t be more excited just to go on a team that’s going to be competing every year for the playoffs or for a championship.”
And Pageau lived up to his word, becoming a big part of the Islanders’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals over the summer and embracing the team culture.
Construction Progresses at UBS Arena
In the middle of a global pandemic that began just months after ground was broken on the site of the Islanders’ future home, it would have made sense if construction had been delayed on the $1.5 billion project at Belmont Park. Instead, UBS Arena is still on track to open this fall in time for the 2021-22 NHL season.
The project did benefit from a warm winter last year. Construction was halted on March 27 as part of a statewide ban on nonessential construction, but started back up in May as part of New York’s phased reopening.
Since then things have progressed at the UBS Arena site at a rapid pace. The final steel beam was raised to the top of UBS Arena in October and the roof is expected to be completed this month.
The arena is targeting a November opening, according to Newsday.
The Islanders Return to the Eastern Conference Finals
In a Time when
COVID-19 Halts Pauses Hockey
The Islanders Trade Devon Toews
