Anthony Duclair Looking to Get on the Plus Side for the New York Islanders 

Exploring the Plus and Minus Sides of Anthony Duclair 

PLUS 

Duclair was a third-round pick of the New York Rangers in 2013. He promptly made the team, though he only played in 18 games for the Rangers. Since then, Duclair has been a bit of a journeyman. But everywhere he’s gone, Duclair has brought speed, agility, and determination. 

Duclair is a typical power forward. He drives to the net, creating a strong presence around the goal, pouncing on rebounds. While he’s not the biggest forward in the league, Duclair is no pushover. He’s the type of player that opposing defenders hate to face. 

Given his speed, goal-scoring instincts and ability to handle the puck in tight, the New York Islanders project Duclair on the top line with Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal.  

Now, there’s a thought. A top-line center like Horvat and an elite playmaker in Barzal could be the recipe for Duclair to get 40 goals. 

That’s the type of scoring the Isles have lacked over the last couple of seasons. Then, there’s the possibility of playing Duclair with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri. That line would boast speed and puck-handling skills.  

Opposing defenses would need to deploy their best defenders to handle that trio. In fact, such a line could open up opportunities for Horvat and Barzal to keep the opposition off balance. 

It’s also worth pointing out that Duclair gives coach Patrick Roy flexibility. Duclair could slot in various situations in the lineup, such as up and down the top six, first and second power play units, or facing the opposition’s best defenders.  

The key to Duclair’s value is the varied skill set he brings to the table. 

Overall, there is little doubt that Duclair is a top-six forward. It would be a shock to see him play in the Isles’ bottom six. Given Duclair’s talent and experience, he could be poised to have the best season of his career. 

MINUS 

For all the speed and talent that Duclair offers, his game is not without flaws. Mainly, Duclair is not a two-way forward. He’s predominantly a power forward who crashes the net looking for pucks. 

That sort of playing style makes it hard for Duclair to get back into plays or back-checking after turnovers.  

Additionally, fans shouldn’t expect to see Duclair killing penalties. While the Isles didn’t sign him to kill penalties, Roy will demand accountability from all his players in the defensive zone. As such, Duclair may have trouble adjusting to such demands. 

Despite his apparent lack of defensive play, Duclair doesn’t make silly mistakes. He dumps pucks out of the zone if he cannot skate them out of the zone. His experience gives the Isles the assurance that Duclair will make the smart choice when playing in his own end. 

At the end of the day, it’s tough to find a fatal flaw with Anthony Duclair. He checks off all the right boxes, helping coaches sleep better at night. At 28, he’s young enough to have a considerable upside, while being old enough to a veteran presence for younger players. 

The Verdict 

Unless Duclair goes cold, as he has been known to do, the Isles should get somewhere between 25 to 30 goals this season. However, there’s potential for Duclair to notch 30 goals, given the talented playmakers he could line up with. 

As it stands, Duclair looks like the steal of the offseason. The fact that other teams passed on Duclair does not diminish the potential value he has to offer. After this upcoming season is done, the New York Islanders will look like geniuses for having quietly signed one of the off-season's best players.