The NY Islanders sign Anthony Duclair to a 4-year contract

The NY Islanders have announced that they've signed forward Anthony Duclair to a 4-year contract worth $3.5M annually.

Duclair, 28, started last season with the San Jose Sharks, scoring 16 goals and adding 11 assists in 56 games before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the trade deadline. Once with Tampa, Duclair's season took off, totaling 15 points (8 G, 7 A) in 17 games, helping the Lightning secure the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Duclair has been a bit of a nomad since entering the NHL with the New York Rangers during the 2014-15 season, playing for eight teams in ten seasons. The longest he's spent in one place was his three seasons with the Florida Panthers from 2020-2023, having his best statistical season in 2021-22, finishing with 58 points (31 G, 27 A) in 74 games. If Duclair plays out the entirety of his new 4-year deal with the Islanders, it'll be the longest he's spent with one organization.

Filling in two positions of need for the Islanders, Duclair can slot in as a top-6 winger while also playing on the power play. Last season, he contributed 12 points on the man advantage between the Sharks and the Lightning.

The Islanders have been a rumored destination for Duclair over the last few seasons, as he provides much-needed speed and is cost-effective. Now, with Patrick Roy at the helm, there's a familiarity between the two that has likely given some extra comfort in signing on Long Island.

Duclair played under Roy for two seasons with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL from 2011-2013. In their first year together, Duclair's rookie season in juniors, he totaled 66 points (31 G, 35 A) in 63 games, followed by 50 points (20 G, 30 A) in 55 games.

It may not be the high-end, 70-point scorer Islanders fans were hoping for, but Duclair is a serviceable winger who can play somewhere between the first and third line.

With this signing, if Lamoriello is hoping to make a splash in the trade market, he'll need to move out a bunch of salary as he has $2.325M in remaining cap space according to PuckPedia, not including the extension given to Mike Reilly.