Islanders’ Duclair, Kuefler out day-to-day with upper body injuries

The New York Islanders will be without left wingers Anthony Duclair and Daylan Kuefler for the short term, announcing on Thursday that the two were day-to-day with upper-body injuries. 

Duclair, 29, has yet to take part in a preseason game with the Islanders in 2025-26, but head coach Patrick Roy says that he hopes the veteran forward can get into one of the four remaining contests. 

The bench boss also confirmed that the current upper-body injury is unrelated to the groin injury that held Duclair back during the 2024-25 season, during which he scored just seven goals and 11 points through 44 regular-season games. 

“I think it’ll be good for him to play some preseason games, there’s no doubt about it,” Roy said in a team release. “But we want him to be healthy, and we respect that.”

Meanwhile, Kuefler, 23, sustained his injury after taking a hit in Tuesday’s preseason game against the New Jersey Devils and will have no clear timeline for a return until the swelling reduces. Last season, he netted two assists in 16 games with the Bridgeport Islanders of the AHL. 

35-year-old left winger Anders Lee also remains out for one-to-two weeks as he recovers from an upper body injury, while right winger Maxim Tsyplakov continues to work his way back as well. As of Thursday, both were skating independently during sessions. 

The Islanders return to preseason action on Thursday against the New York Rangers, before closing out the exhibition schedule with games against the Philadelphia Flyers, Devils and Rangers, culminating in their NHL regular season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 9. 

Last season, the Islanders finished sixth in the Metropolitan Division with 82 points, nine points short of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot, and will hope to close the gap this season.