The Florida Panthers announced that forward Anthony Duclair is sidelined for at least a week with an undisclosed lower-body injury.
Joel Quenneville says Anthony Duclair out perhaps a week, Frank Vatrano to get a look on top #FlaPanthers line with Barkov and Verhaeghe
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) March 1, 2021
Anthony Duclair Injured
On Monday morning, Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville said that Duclair would miss “about a week” with a lower-body injury. Duclair sustained the injury during the team’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. While there was no precise moment when Duclair suffered said damage. He did leave the game with 10:24 remaining in the third period. For a guy that uses his speed to his advantage, the fact that he recorded a season-low 12:01 of ice-time says something in itself.
So far this season, Anthony Duclair has scored two goals and eight assists for ten points to go along with four minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were pretty good, at 57.2 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 6.2.
Over his seven-year NHL career, Duclair has played for a handful of teams, including the Arizona Coyotes, Ottawa Senators and the Colombus Blue Jackets. He has 81 goals and 91 assists for 172 career points in 372 career games. The New York Rangers originally drafted him in the third round, 80th overall in the 2013 NHL Entry draft.
What This Means for the Future
Despite Duclairs un-natural lack of production; The highly-talented forward still has made a tremendous impact on the Panther’s offence. Even though ten points in 19 games are not the MO for Anthony, his underlying numbers stand out the most. Not only is he still driving plays, but he is also helping create scoring opportunities off of them as well. As part of that dynamic top line on the Panthers, his possession numbers are the highest they have ever been. Regardless of how Duclair is starting, he has still been an incredible addition to the Panthers’ offence—using his speed, combined with those around him. The Florida Panthers transition game has been top-notch.
Now that Duclair will miss at least the next two games. Quenneville will look to Frank Vatrano to fill the void. Vatrano is another player that has tons of speed and loves to play chippy. After scoring some big-time goals this past week, he has been given a chance to shine on the first line with Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe.
