Duclair was signed to be a top player. Now, with Barzal out, the Islanders need him to be.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- It has been a trying season for Anthony Duclair in his first season with the New York Islanders, but now they need him to step up with Mathew Barzal, who is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.
Barzal's long-term injury has opened up the door for Duclair to see top-line minutes for the first time since he sustained a long-term lower-body injury just five games into the regular season.
Duclair, who signed a four-year deal worth $3.5 million annually on July 1, missed 22 games with that lower-body injury, one that will affect him for the rest of the season.
The injury is a major problem as Duclair's skill is his speed, and that's been compromised.
But the Islanders feel that Duclair playing in the lineup, not at 100%, is a better option than having someone fully healthy in there.
And if that's the case, with no one using the injury as an excuse for why Duclair has just two points (one goal, one assist) over his last 15 games, they'll need him to try his best to rise to the occasion, especially over the next three games before a much-needed two-week break.
He needs to empty the tank, if you will.
"Tony knows he's not playing his best hockey. I mean, I talked to him before the Philly game, and he knows that," Roy said following Tuesday's morning skate. "But we need him. I know he's playing with Bo and Anders. They're both playing very well. And I know that these guys are gonna help him. They gotta help him to play his best hockey. I know him from his junior days. I know he's got so much talent, and if he moves his feet, if he's competing, I know he'll be fine. We just need to get him going. And I'm very confident he will because he cares, and he wants to do well."
Now, you may be asking, "Why does a banged-up Duclair have to skate on the top line?"
It's a fair question. I asked Newsday's Andrew Gross about his thoughts on giving the red-hot Simon Holmstrom a chance with Horvat on the latest edition of Hockey Night in New York.
Gross made a great point, one that I partly agree with: Roy loves Holmstrom alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and it doesn't seem like he has any interest in breaking that duo up right now:
The reality of the situation is that Duclair was signed to be a top-line forward for this team. Even lacking his elite foot speed, Duclair can still play fast and play off Horvat' a big give-and-go guy to create chances.
The Islanders' season may hang in the balance of Duclair being the difference maker.
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