On July 1, free agent forward Anthony Duclair signed the longest contract of his 10-year NHL career when he inked a four-year deal worth $14 million ($3.5M AAV) with the New York Islanders.
It was a move that provided stability for the soon-to-be 29-year-old speedster, reuniting him with his former head coach, Parick Roy.
“When a coach calls you and tells you he wants you on his team, it’s hard to say no, especially when it’s Pat,” Duclair said in his Islanders introductory press conference.
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Duclair’s respect for his bench boss is very appropriate; the pair’s relationship dates back more than a decade when coach and player teamed up on the Quebec Remparts.
The two-time Memorial Cup-winning coach witnessed the talented teen’s NHL potential during Duclair’s first season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), notching 66 points in 63 games (31 G, 35, A) during the 2011-12 season.
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After 20 goals with 30 assists for 60 points in 55 games in his sophomore season, the New York Rangers drafted him with the 80th pick (third round) at the 2013 NHL Draft.
The pick looked like a steal when Duclair potted 50 goals with 49 assists for 99 points in 59 games during his junior season under Roy.
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After just 26 games to close out his junior season, with 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points, Duclair joined the Rangers, playing 18 games with a goal and six assists before the 2014-15 NHL season came to a close.
He was then moved to the Arizona Coyotes, starting a nomadic career that saw him spend time in Chicago, Columbus, Ottawa, Florida, San Jose, and Tampa before landing on Long Island.
After hitting 20 goals with Arizona in year one, 2015-16, Duclair had his first 30-goal season of his NHL career in 2021 as a member of the Florida Panthers; nine of the 31 goals and 12 assists happened on the power play.
Duclair and the Florida Panthers went on to have a magical playoff run after sneaking into the playoffs. They lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
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After being dealt to the San Jose Sharks ahead of the 2023-24 season, Duclair was moved to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline before scoring eight goals with seven assists for 15 points in 17 games.
Now, he’s an Islander, hoping his stay is longer than his past spots.
While bouncing around isn’t ideal, Duclair certainly knows, at this point, how to get acclimated to a new team.
At 5-on-5, his speed will allow him to keep pace with Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal. That should help create odd-man rush chances more often, and Duclair’s finishing ability is something that the duo hasn’t had consistently over their year-plus together.
Although not a player who lights it up on the power play, with just 38 career playoff goals in 563 games, Duclair should help a power-play unit that has lacked consistency for the longest time.
Given the fact that Duclair played for Roy, one would think he should have no problem getting acclimated to his new home and helping the Islanders not just back into the playoffs for a third straight season but past the first round for the first time in three years.
Jake April contributed to this story.
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