Former San Jose Sharks forward Anthony Duclair had a tough first season with the New York Islanders in 2024-2025.
Duclair signed a four-year contract with an AAV of $3.5 million last summer. Islanders head coach Patrick Roy coached the former Sharks forward in his junior hockey days with the Quebec Ramparts.
Limited to just 44 games with a groin injury last season, Duclair scored seven goals and four assists. He was openly criticized harshly by Roy following a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
He would then take a leave of absence following the comments made by Roy.
During the Islanders’ annual charity golf tournament, Duclair told reporters the extent of his injury.
“Obviously, we know the injury. I tore my groin right off the bone, fifth game of the year,” Duclari said. “Injuries happen. They’re out of my control. The timeline given to me was 4-6 weeks. It was a little tough, 3 ½ weeks, I didn’t have a groin. It was still not connected back to the bone. So I just feel like I came back too early. Got back skating too early, skated with the team too early, ended up playing too early.”
“It hindered me the rest of the season, and I basically played on one leg. As a player, you don’t want to be on the sidelines; you want to be playing out there, battling with the boys. That’s what I try to do. Obviously, it wasn’t good for anyone for me to be out there.”
Duclair also told reporters that he and Roy had a conversation in Montreal over the summer. Roy would apologize for his comments toward the former San Jose Sharks winger.
“I talked to Patty. Patty reached out over the summer. He drove down to Montreal, which I really appreciated,” Duclair said. “He apologized for his comments. I told him I didn’t need an apology. I just needed him to know I was playing hurt, and he told me he didn’t really know the extent of the injury. It was just a miscommunication by everybody. Myself included. He just obviously thought I was playing 100 percent, which I wasn’t. Coming back too early kind of hindered me during the offseason as well. Didn’t have the training that I wanted. I’m feeling much better. I’m feeling better out there. Should be ready to go.”
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