Anthony Duclair Shows Signs of Helping Islanders' Lineup
Anthony Duclair's performance in the season opener suggests he might finally be a solution to the Islanders' lineup challenges.
The New York Islanders' fourth line appeared to be an unusual combination on paper, but during Wednesday's season-opening loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, it proved to be their most effective unit, largely due to the play of Anthony Duclair.
In his first two seasons with the Islanders since signing in 2024, Duclair's impactful games have been infrequent. A torn groin injury sidelined him for the entirety of the 2024-25 season, and the 2025-26 season saw him frequently a healthy scratch, spending nearly as much time out of the lineup as in the top six.
This season, the primary question regarding Duclair was not whether he would rediscover his scoring touch, but whether he would even make the lineup. However, his performance in the opening game suggests that this might have been the wrong question.
Duclair exhibited a level of speed that had been absent since his injury, driving play and creating scoring opportunities. This performance earned him a promotion from the fourth line to the second line. "He had good legs tonight," coach Pete DeBoer commented. "So I wanted to reward him. I thought he was working and he was moving. He had some juice there that I thought he could help some of the top guys with his legs."
While it is only one game and past performances have shown inconsistency, Duclair's current situation with a new coach, a clean slate, and no attached expectations could prove advantageous. The Islanders are in need of offensive contributions, and Duclair was originally acquired with the hope that he would complement top players like Mat Barzal and Bo Horvat. Although that particular line combination is not currently being considered, especially with Barzal injured and slated to play center upon his return, the Islanders have continued to face lineup challenges since signing Duclair. On opening night, however, Duclair demonstrated his potential to address these issues, offering a glimmer of hope that his impact may be arriving, albeit later than anticipated.