Insights from Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s Game Preparation

When Cal Ritchie joined the Islanders, he quickly saw some unique aspects of Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s approach to preparing for games.

“He thinks about the game differently than I do,” Ritchie remarked recently. “He’s intensely focused on his own actions and seems to anticipate what the opposing players will do.”

Pageau, a seasoned player with 14 years in the league, has established himself as one of the top faceoff specialists. He has consistently maintained over a 55 percent win rate for five seasons, and for ten seasons overall, he achieved a personal best of 59.6 percent in the 2024-25 season. This year, he’s actually trending up, currently at 61.4 percent.

Pageau has worked diligently to refine his skills, passing on that wisdom to Ritchie.

“You have to know your opponent and their tendencies,” Pageau explained before a game against Minnesota. “That way, you can predict my next move. Personally, I like to inform my teammates where the puck might go when facing a certain player, so they can support me better.”

“I really pay attention to the positioning of the opponent’s stick and imagine what they’re going to do. It’s quick. You learn to adapt almost instantly. I’ve been impressed with Cal. While he might not have the stats yet, his eagerness to improve and ask questions stands out.”

In Ritchie’s first few games, his faceoffs were a bit of a challenge, winning only 7 out of 24 attempts.

Fortunately, the Islanders have a solid history with faceoff success. They topped the league last season in faceoff percentage, largely thanks to assistant coach Benoît Desrosiers and players like Pageau and Beau Horvat leading the stats.

Pageau notes that experience plays a significant role. “I can even identify certain referee tendencies now,” he added.

“I believe in strategically bending the rules a bit to gain an edge,” Pageau said. “You can get away with more against some players. Certain players, for example, drop the puck faster. There are little strategies we discuss as centers before each game.”

While hockey scouts prep for opponents, Pageau spends about five minutes before a game analyzing the center of the opposing team—in this case, Minnesota. Having faced all their centers before, he doesn’t feel he needs to study them too deeply anymore, especially since players like Ryan Hartman and Joel Eriksson Ek have been in the league for a while.

“The tough part is when new centers enter the league; it’s hard to gauge their play style right away,” Pageau continued. “You have to adapt your game on the fly.”

Ritchie, who recently played his 11th NHL game, has his own strengths, but he lacks the extensive experience Pageau brings. “I’m genuinely impressed with Cal’s progress so far,” Pageau acknowledged. “His commitment, growth, and knack for absorbing new tips are notable. Sometimes it’s just about getting the right technique down, but he’s been doing well.”