NY Islanders fans should give Anthony Duclair a fresh start after rough first season

Anthony Duclair’s first year with the New York Islanders couldn’t have gone much worse, but that doesn’t mean Year Two can’t be completely different.

When Lou Lamoriello brought him in last summer, the hope was that Duclair’s speed and finishing touch would be the perfect complement to Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal. Instead, a torn groin five games into the season derailed everything before it really started. By the time he returned, he never found his stride, finishing with just 11 points in 44 games. The frustration boiled over in April when Patrick Roy publicly called him out, said he was "god awful" and questioned his work ethic. A few days later, Duclair was on a leave of absence for the final eight games.

That’s the story everyone remembers, but it doesn’t have to be the one that defines him as an Islander. He's entering year two of a four-year deal. There's time to turn things around.

On the Big Ceaz podcast this week, Duclair made it clear where his heart is: “The Islanders right now are my team. I love them. I love playing for them. I love the fans. We got a great hockey rink. It’s been a joy, and I’m looking forward to a great season… and hopefully getting into the playoffs.”

That doesn’t sound like a player mailing it in. That sounds like a guy ready to reset, reload, and give the Islanders the version of Anthony Duclair who scored 31 goals for Florida in 2021-22 and 18 goals in a split season between San Jose and Tampa Bay in 2023-24.

Fans deserve better than what they saw from him last year, and so does Duclair. This fall is a clean slate for both sides. If he stays healthy and finds chemistry in the top six, the conversation around Duclair could flip fast.