New York Islanders forward Anthony Duclair will be taking time away from the team, head coach Patrick Roy said Thursday.
The announcement comes two days after Roy told reporters that Duclair was “god-awful” in the Islanders’ 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Roy addressed the elephant in the room with reporters after Duclair was not present at practice Thursday morning.
“Obviously you saw that Anthony was not at practice today,” Roy said. “This morning, Anthony and I had a very good conversation, a very positive one, and Anthony asked me to take some time off and reflect. So, I obviously agreed to that, and we’ll give him all the time that he needs.”
Duclair, 29, was a minus-1 in 12:15 of ice time in Tuesday’s loss on home ice.
“He was god-awful,” Roy said of Duclair following the game. “He had a bad game. That’s why I didn’t play him a lot. He is lucky to be in the lineup. Sorry if I lose it on him right now, but that’s just how I feel.
“He’s not skating, he’s not competing, he’s not moving his feet. He’s not playing up to what we expect from him. … I think it’s an effort thing.”
Signed to a four-year, $14 million contract in July, Duclair has 11 points (seven goals, four assists) with a career-worst minus-15 rating in 44 games this season.
Duclair has totaled 314 points (153 goals, 161 assists) in 607 career games with nine different teams since being selected by the New York Rangers in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft.
–Field Level Media
