What should New York Islanders do about Anthony Duclair?

The New York Islanders had high hopes for Anthony Duclair at the start of this season. Duclair was the Isles’ big offseason signing, bringing him in on a four-year deal. The hope was that Duclair would be the top-six winger the Islanders needed to boost scoring.

He started the season well enough. Then, a devasting injury hit the Islanders winger, leaving him out of the lineup for a good chunk of the season.

When Duclair returned, it was evident he wasn’t the same guy everyone saw at the start of the season. His speed, his biggest weapon, was gone. Duclair struggled to use his speed to generate dangerous scoring opportunities.

Moreover, it seemed like his confidence had been zapped. His mental game just wasn’t there. His scoring evaporated. He hit the shelf again briefly and returned to dismal production.

All told, Anthony Duclair put up seven goals and four assists for 11 points in 44 games this season. Even in an injury-filled 2022-23 season with the Florida Panthers, Duclair notched nine points in 20 games.

But it was his production in the 2025 calendar year that produced frustration for the organization, particularly coach Patrick Roy. Duclair’s five points in 2025, plus what Roy called a lack of effort on Duclair’s part prompted the Isles’ coach to drop the hammer on Duclair.

As my colleagues here at Eyes on Isles reported, Roy referred to Duclair’s efforts as “godawful.” That criticism has prompted the beleaguered winger to step away from the game.

Islanders beat reporter Stefen Rosner posted this statement from Roy:

With this situation in mind, what do the Islanders do about Anthony Duclair? Perhaps the bigger question is: “Does Anthony Duclair have a future in Long Island?”

The New York Islanders must trade Anthony Duclair this summer

The short answer to the previous questions is that the New York Islanders must trade Anthony Duclair this summer. It’s evident the rift between Duclair and the Islanders organization has gotten to a point where Duclair needs a fresh start.

As it stands, the Isles will be lucky to get anything in return for Duclair. Moreover, it doesn’t really matter where the Isles send him. The club owes it to Duclair to give him a chance to turn over a leaf, wherever that may be.

Now, the broader situation refers to the way Patrick Roy handled the situation. Roy was right in calling out a veteran player. However, he didn’t handle the situation appropriately. The use of the adjective “godawful” is something not every athlete can take into stride.

As a result, the comments shattered Duclair’s confidence, leaving him at a crossroads. The only way that Duclair regains his confidence in Long Island is if Roy gets the heave-ho. But by the looks of things, it doesn’t seem likely that Roy gets canned.

I’ll be honest, I think it’s 50-50 that Roy returns next season. But we might be getting ahead of ourselves in making that judgment call. The Isles are likely going to retool this upcoming season. So, moving on from Duclair’s cap hit could open the door for the Islanders to pursue other free agents.

We shall see what the fallout from this situation is. Let’s just hope that Anthony Duclair gets back on track, whether it’s in New York or elsewhere.