On October 24th, The New York Islanders announced an update that forward Anthony Duclair would be out for four-to-six weeks following a lower-body injury. A few days ago the club had announced that it would be a long-term injury, but now we have confirmed the details.
The Update is Anthony Duclair is Out 4-6 Weeks With a Lower Body Injury
The Islanders have suffered a major loss to their offensive group with this injury. Joining New York in the offseason, Duclair quickly became an integral part of the team’s offensive group.
#Isles Injury Update: Anthony Duclair will be out 4-6 weeks (lower body).
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 24, 2024
Duclair has scored two goals and an assist in five games to start the season. Playing on the right wing, Duclair’s offensive abilities have meshed well with stars Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat. Duclair also plays on the power play, and for the veteran Islander team, this is a significant loss.
Drafted 80th overall in the 2013 draft by the New York Rangers, Duclair has bounced around the league throughout his career. A former 30-goal scorer, Duclair has served on nine different teams since making his NHL debut. Hoping to add scoring power to their lineup, Duclair’s three 20-goal seasons made him an enticing pickup for the Islanders organization.
What This Means for the Islanders
In a season where the Islanders were hoping to qualify for the playoffs, the team loses a significant piece of their offence to start the year. While his injury against Montreal did not look good, four-to-six weeks of recovery time is a relatively positive outcome. However, Duclair’s presence will be sorely missed during the early goings of this season.
Without Duclair, Barzal and Horvat will have to find chemistry with other forwards on the roster. They have both scored just three points each in their six games to start the year. This will need to improve vastly for the aging Islanders team to find success. Simon Holmstrom, a former first-round pick in 2019, is a young forward expected to get a chance with the pair on the top line. Holmstrom has shown flashes of offensive talent. He will receive the chance to stretch his talents with talented players on the top line.
Main Photo Credit: Anthony Wild – USA TODAY Sports
