Islanders Get Brutal News on Anthony Duclair

At first, the New York Islanders tried to shrug off the injury over the weekend suffered by one of their new forwards, Anthony Duclair. But the news is in, and it's not good. Duclair is expected to be out "long term", per GM Lou Lamoriello, though he adds that the injury shouldn't be season-ending. Doesn't sound good, nevertheless.

Duclair hurt #isles pic.twitter.com/RNHLqyd652
— YESUV🚙 (@IslesWhiteSUV) October 20, 2024

When Duclair went down on Saturday night, it didn't seem to be anything serious, as it was mostly a non-contact injury—but those are sometimes the ones you worry about most. He wasn't in "grimacing pain" as noted on the play-by-play call, but he was favoring his right leg as he was escorted off the ice.

#Isles GM Lou Lamoriello says they’ll know more about Anthony Duclair over next 24 hours.

Long term, not short term as of now.

Not a season-ending injury.

Someone will be recalled from Bridgeport.

Gauthier going on waivers had nothing to do with injury.
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) October 21, 2024

“It will be more long-term than short-term at this point. It certainly is not season-ending or anything. But the time frame, we just have to get more results from the x-rays and MRIs," said Lamoriello. He has indicated that the team will know more after further medical tests over the next day or so.

Duclair was an offseason free agent signing by the Isles, with a four-year deal at a $3.5 million AAV. He was coming off a 24-goal season, and was already fitting in quite well with the Islanders, posting two goals and three points in the first five games of the season, and averaging a career-high 16:30 of ice-time per night.

It appears that Simon Holmstrom will take Duclair's spot on the top line for now.