Since the New York Islanders acquired Jean-Gabriel Pageau ahead of the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline, the shifting of his linemates has been a common theme. He's got new wingers again for Tuesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche and discussed the changes following morning skate.

EAST MEADOW, NY -- Since the New York Islanders acquired Jean-Gabriel Pageau ahead of the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline, the shifting of his linemates has been a common theme. 

Per MoneyPuck.com, Pageau has skated on 39 different lines since joining the Islanders (10-minute minimum) and is about to make it No. 40 Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche.

Regardless of who Pageau has been with, he's usually been tasked with shutting down the opponent's best. He knows his role and tries to focus on that. 

"You always have to adjust a little bit," Pageau said on the different line partners. "It's been like that for a couple of years now. Guys have been in and out with injuries --call it whatever it is -- the lines have changed, and my wingers have changed a lot.

"So I think if I focus on what I can and try to control what I can, that's the best thing I can do, talk a lot to my wingers; I have good communication with them, and it just makes it easier."

The Hockey News asked Pageau if the constant changes are tough on him.

"You take it, I think, in a positive way," Pageau said." It is always a bit challenging, but the same thing for them [the other players]. "When you want success, you need the guys beside you to be at the top [of their game] and to want to help you, and that's what I'm trying to do. That's what they're trying to do. So when three guys are pushing the same way, that's how you get successful."

After starting the season with Anders Lee and Hudson Fasching as his wingers for the first two games, getting Julien Gauthier for a little bit in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, Pageau has completely new linemates heading into Tuesday's game.

On the left is Simon Holmstrom, who started the season as the Islanders top-line winger. On the right is Oliver Wahlstrom, who he's played with in the past, a player who began the season as a healthy scratch as he worked his way back up to speed after his ACL injury last season. 

This is a line that Pageau believes can work given each player's skill set.

"Simon, we know how smart he is with the puck, with his hockey IQ. And Wahlstrom, how hard he is shooting, I think it'd be a very good combination," Pageau said. "[We got] a little bit of everything."

Holmstrom stuck in the NHL for 50 games last season due to that strong defensive play. Lambert moving him off the top line had everything to do with his offensive zone play. 

Wahlstrom, a potential NHL sniper, finally showed signs that he understood the importance of playing a two-way game before his injury.

"He's grown a lot in his defensive game and also physical game," Pageau said regarding Wahlstrom. "Sometimes it's not about always throwing the big hit but getting in the way and knowing those little details, just getting into the right spot.

In Wahlstrom's return to the lineup Saturday after eight or so months away, the 23-year-old threw three hits with a shot and a giveaway. 

"He's got some grit in his game," Pageau said. "He's not always throwing the big hit, but getting into people's way, having a stick in the right spots in the defensive zone, being in the right spot in the neutral zone. 

"And then a good stick on the forecheck. That means playing good defensively, too, if you are on the good side of the puck and you're not cheating for offense. You're just waiting for your chance, and I think in his first game, he was in good spots."

In his two years as the Islanders head coach, Lambert has tried to find the right places for certain players. Last year, it was Wahlstrom, and this year, early, it seems to be Lee. 

Pageau believes that Wahlstrom can play with anyone. 

"I think he's got the skill sets and the mind to be good with anyone," Pageau said. "We've had success before together. So we kind of know where we're going, where we're going to be, in which spot we're gonna be around the net. 

"We've already had some little plays that we've done in the past that I know we're gonna try to do tonight. I think on his side also, to have a center that he's played with probably makes it easier for him, too."

Following Tuesday's morning skate, Lambert was asked if he still believes Pageau's line can still be a shutdown line. 

"Absolutely, yeah." 

We shall see how that line does against the juggernaut Avalanche, with puck drop at 8 PM ET at UBS Arena.