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

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.