‘Islanders are my team’: Anthony Duclair opens up for first time after taking leave of absence
Following a difficult first season on Long Island, New York Islanders’ forward Anthony Duclair spoke for the first time since taking a leave of absence from the club.
On an episode of The BigCeaz Show, Duclair sat down for an in-depth, hour-long conversation on a number of topics, including his relationship with the team that signed him to a four-year, $3.5 million AAV.
“The Islanders, right now, are my team, and I absolutely love them, love playing for them, love the fans. We got a great hockey rink, it’s been a joy,” he said. “I’m looking forward to a great season next year, and looking forward to bouncing back and hopefully getting back to the playoffs.”
Last April, the 29-year-old Duclair was granted a leave of absence to take “time off to reflect,” just days after Islanders’ Head Coach Patrick Roy tore into Duclair following a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“He was God awful. He had a bad game, and that’s why I didn’t play him a lot and he’s lucky to be in the lineup. Sorry if I lose it on him, but that’s how I feel,” Roy said post-game. “He’s not skating, he’s not competing, he’s not moving his feet. He’s not playing up to what we expect from him.”
The Hockey News’ Stefan Rosner reported that Roy and Duclair had a long and positive conversation on Thursday morning. Roy agreed to Duclair’s request to take some time off.
You can watch the full episode here:
In 2024-25, Duclair finished with seven goals and four assists for 11 points in 44 regular-season games.
In 11 NHL seasons, the Pointe-Claire, Que., native has 153 goals and 161 assists for 314 points in 607 career games with the Islanders, Lightning, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes and New York Rangers.
He also has five goals and 11 assists for 16 points in 39 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Taken by the Rangers in the third round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Duclair found success in junior with the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s (QMJHL) Quebec Remparts, scoring 116 goals and adding 133 assists for 249 points in 203 career regular-season games. His best season came in 2013-14, scoring 50 goals and 49 assists for 99 points in 59 regular-season games.
He also recorded 14 goals and 28 assists for 42 points in 44 QMJHL playoff games, including eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points during the Remparts’ 2015 playoff run.