During the New York Islanders 4-3 shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night, they lost one of their best players to a lower-body injury. The player was the Islanders prized free agent acquisition this offseason, Anthony Duclair, and now he will miss time due to this injury. Duclair, who signed a four-year, $14 million deal this offseason. Furthermore, he was off to a great start on the first line scoring three points in the first five games. Newsday’s Andrew Gross reports the news passed on by general manager Lou Lamoriello that Duclair will be out long-term. However, it isn’t now thought to be season-ending. More will be known following testing tomorrow.
Lou says it will be a “long-term” injury for Duclair but not season ending. More will be known tomorrow after further testing.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) October 21, 2024
Anthony Duclair Injury News
At 3:19 in the third period Duclair suffered what appeared to be a lower body injury. On a play where he was cutting to the net he got tied up with Jayden Struble. He overextended his left leg while his right leg went beneath him. He fell to the ice and remained there until the medical staff came over to him. They helped him up and he went to the locker room, while not putting much weight on his right leg. Moreover, Duclair did not return to the bench for the remainder of the game. In the post game head coach Patrick Roy did not provide an update regarding his condition.
What Does This Injury Mean?
Replacing Anthony Duclair during this injury will be no easy task. He was on the top-line next to Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat and was playing on the Islanders top power play unit.
Simon Holmstrom replaced Duclair for the remainder of the game. It remains to be seen who will get the first crack at the top-line minutes. They could roll with Holmstrom, the team’s first round pick from 2019. Another option could be the team’s other free agent addition from the KHL, Maxim Tsyplakov. This option might make a little more sense as Tsyplakov already has built up some chemistry playing with Horvat and Barzal on the first power play unit. In his first NHL season, Tsyplakov has shown his potential with three points in five games. Whatever option the Islanders decide to go with, they will have big shoes to fill. We hope the injury to Duclair is nothing serious and he returns quickly.
Main Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing – USA TODAY Sports
