Anthony Duclair Cuts Hair, Shaves Beard Ahead Of First Training Camp With Islanders

[Wallet Inspector]

What if a player just said no? Like I get it for the Yankees because they're the Yankees even in 2024 but the Islanders haven't had any recent success and Lamoriello is years past his best before date. What is he going to do?

Lou is so old school he probably unironically thinks refusing to cut hair would be grounds for contract termination.

 

[JPT]

Dress codes build morale. Organizations that demand more of their members see increased buy-in.

How are you quantifying morale and buy-in increases due to dress codes?

 

[ManofSteel55]

If it comes to that, Duclair could be effectively suspended by the team and eventually shipped out of town. Considering he signed with the Isles possessing full knowledge of all of this, it would be a pretty dumb reason to cause such a stink.

I think most people cringe at the idea of this rule, as evidenced by the other 31 teams' lack of need for it, but when you just signed a multimillion-dollar contract with that one particular team, you are responsible for following its rules.

I'm pretty sure it would be against the CBA to suspend a player because of their hair.

His playing time though, that could be gone. I would anticipate this was discussed before he signed though, and he was okay with the policy before he signed with the Isles.

 

[Team_Spirit]

It's more of a team bonding thing but you guys wouldn't get it. Bet the group chat was fired up.

 

[WhataKnight]

I can definitely see that. Another poster said that hair could take several years to grow so that's quite the step to take. And they all take that step so I could also see how it could be a little more unifying in the locker room, as compared to a manufactured camping trip like some teams were doing. Gets the guys something to talk about with every new player to suit up for the team. Could be a scar every player has to draw across their chest like some barbarian thing, joking of course, or this military style code, as long as it's unifying and guarantees they all have something in common. They can rant about old man Lou together if that's what it takes to feel like a team. He has to know it'll be talked about and be okay with some banter.

I can get that, and I understand both sides of it to a degree.

It’s just a bit of a murky topic when various demographics have a right to be predisposed to reacting kinda viciously to “mandatory compliance.”

Slippery slope, indeed.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

I miss Kyle Palmieri's beard

 

[The Crypto Guy]

It's more of a team bonding thing but you guys wouldn't get it. Bet the group chat was fired up.

I'm sure they didn't care at all..

 

[Peltz]

Is that really the policy? I don't understand how something like that is real in 2024.

 

[Peltz]

If it's a legit team rule, I would imagine it's in the contract and subject to fine.

The Yankees will 100% fine you. It's actually a team bylaw.

It's out of date in so many ways.

The league needs more unique players who are marketable, not a bunch of dudes who look like they belong on a 1950s jazz album cover sporting close-cut hairstyles.

These teams should be leaning in the opposite direction to sell more tickets/merchandise - giving the players access to stylists, and more flamboyant PR, encouraging the players to say controversial things in interviews, etc.

Every time an active NHL player talks it's like watching paint dry.

 

[Devilsfan2326]

It's out of date in so many ways.

The league needs more unique players who are marketable, not a bunch of dudes who look like they belong on a 1950s jazz album cover sporting close-cut hairstyles.

These teams should be leaning in the opposite direction to sell more tickets/merchandise - giving the players access to stylists, and more flamboyant PR, encouraging the players to say controversial things in interviews, etc.

Every time an active NHL player talks it's like watching paint dry.

I've been thinking about how to word this, but this rule probably makes Lou the most expressive GM.

 

[Peltz]

I've been thinking about how to word this, but this rule probably makes Lou the most expressive GM.

Expressive? Or repressive?

 

[hamzarocks]

Does this hair + beard rule aplly for playoffs too?

Does baseball have growing bear for palyoff culture? Yankees can get away with that maybe but hockey pretty much every player keeps a beard come playoff time.

I think the rules only for reg season, too lazy to search up but I think Scotty N had his beard before joining the ducks

 

[Devilsfan2326]

Expressive? Or repressive?

Expressive in an ironic way. He does what he wants even if the other 31 teams don't do it that way.

 

[Profet]

I've been thinking about how to word this, but this rule probably makes Lou the most expressive GM.

I think the word you are looking for is "affective" (with an 'A').

 

[UncleRico]

Duclair 100% knew before he signed the contract. This is a nothing story promoted by people who have nothing to talk about

 

[NYRfan85]

I'm a Yankees fan, and I can't stand the archaic clean-shaven, no long hair rule. Unfortunately, the Yankees are known for it, so that rule is probably never going away.

Lou is a dinosaur, so of course he still thinks this should be required. Does he still make players only wear numbers lower than 40 (another dumb rule)?

 

[bossram]

It's more of a team bonding thing but you guys wouldn't get it. Bet the group chat was fired up.

Getting the same haricut was a team-bonding thing we did in like 8th grade.

Adults realize it's pretty stupid and pointless. Yeah, Duclair signed up for it and knew what Lou's rule was, so it's partly on him. But Lou's rule itself is just dumb and he's a dinosaur who shouldn't even be in the league anymore.

 

[Devilsfan2326]

Getting the same haricut was a team-bonding thing we did in like 8th grade.

Adults realize it's pretty stupid and pointless. Yeah, Duclair signed up for it and knew what Lou's rule was, so it's partly on him. But Lou's rule itself is just dumb and he's a dinosaur who shouldn't even be in the league anymore.

He probably makes them raise their hand to go to the bathroom during team meetings

 

[TeamRenzo]

A reprisal of Wilt Chamberlain and John Wooden?

You can't make me cut my hair, coach!

No, but I decide who plays for the UCLA Bruins, and we're going to miss you, Wilt.

Seriously, "enforcing" a personal grooming policy in this day and age is laughable.

That's funny because I think rules and standards is what is missing from today's society.

He knew Lou's rules before he signed a four-year agreement worth millions of dollars and by all accounts had no problem abiding by them.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

It's out of date in so many ways.

The league needs more unique players who are marketable, not a bunch of dudes who look like they belong on a 1950s jazz album cover sporting close-cut hairstyles.

These teams should be leaning in the opposite direction to sell more tickets/merchandise - giving the players access to stylists, and more flamboyant PR, encouraging the players to say controversial things in interviews, etc.

Every time an active NHL player talks it's like watching paint dry.

True, get rid of helmets so the players can stand out more

 

[kingsholygrail]

I think we care more about it than they do.

 

[Curufinwe]

I'm pretty sure it would be against the CBA to suspend a player because of their hair.

His playing time though, that could be gone. I would anticipate this was discussed before he signed though, and he was okay with the policy before he signed with the Isles.

It's also illegal under NY law.

New York Bans Discrimination Based on Religious Clothing, Facial Hair

Starting Oct. 8, New York employers can’t refuse to hire, retain, promote or take other discriminatory action against a person for wearing attire or facial hair in accordance with the tenets of their religion

www.mercer.com

In February, the New York City Commission on Human Rights issued guidance stating that employer policies on appearance and grooming that ban natural hair or hairstyles constitute unlawful discrimination under the city’s Human Rights Law. California became the first state to enact a similar law. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) maintains that some workplace grooming policies may run afoul of the protection against racial or religious discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

 

[Voight]

I always thought the reason for Lou's policy had nothing to do with looks, but because shaving each morning is a good way to start the day. It's a small task but still one that demands discipline.

AFAIK it's because the Yankees under Steinbrenner (and tot his day, under his kids) have had that policy. Lou wanted to emulate great sports franchises when he took over the Mickey Mouse Devils.

I also dont get the complaints. Duclair could've easily not signed with the Islanders. Hes on his 9th team and hes not even 30, so he was probably very happy to get a 4 year contract even if he had to cut his hair.

 

[Ciao]

That's funny because I think rules and standards is what is missing from today's society.

He knew Lou's rules before he signed a four-year agreement worth millions of dollars and by all accounts had no problem abiding by them.

Social expectations are always changing.

I would ban tattoos like a lot of players have, big bushy unkempt beards, dreadlocks, piercings, flashy jewelry, purple hair and the like just because I don't like those things and find them aesthetically displeasing.

However, I'm not in charge of other people's tastes, and as an employer in this day and age I just have to look away or grin and bear it, as pretty much anything goes.

You can try to promote a certain culture within your organization, but hard and fast rules on personal grooming are quickly going out of bounds in a lot of enterprises.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

I literally just dyed my hair green because i lost a friendly bet with a friend. It's only hairs . (Sorry bald people)