Confirmed with Link: Islanders Sign Duclair to 4 Year Deal, $3.5M AAV

[Glory Days]

Adds speed and some goals to a team desperate for wingers. I’m ok with this deal.

 

[SCMURRAY]

Have you been paying attention to the AAV's for today? 24G in 71 games last year.

I wasn't too far off

 

[SI90]

A few things to note about Duclair

- Speed and an incredible burst
- great one timer
- he finishes on breakaway and 1 on 1 chances ( this might be the most important thing for us.)

 

[BelovedIsles]

Always liked Duclair. Speed, hands, goal scoring, an underrated player. He also has an electricity to his game.

Interested to see him with Barzal.

 

[Isles Junkie]

An incredibly inconsistent team really doesn't need an incredibly inconsistent player.

 

[Tahoeblue]

A few things to note about Duclair

- Speed and an incredible burst
- great one timer
- he finishes on breakaway and 1 on 1 chances ( this might be the most important thing for us.)

His speed in OT and skill in shootouts will help. They left a lot of points on the table last year.

 

[12Dog]

Adds needed speed to lineup
He’s a middle 6, ideally a third line guy
Would’ve liked 3 years, but the money is ok
Debrusk,s game translates better for playoffs, maybe that’s why he got the term he got?

 

[Tres Peleches]

An incredibly inconsistent team really doesn't need an incredibly inconsistent player.

He’s a massive upgrade on our bottom-6 and a serviceable player in the top-6.

Where else are you going to find that for 3.5M AAV without giving up significant assets?

 

[SI90]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1807898819809710473

 

[YearlyLottery]

All of his goals for SJ came off the rush and most of his goals for Tampa came off of puck movement in the zone. If he gets a shot in the top six he will score 30 this year.

 

[SI90]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1807911067143581882

 

[Isles Junkie]

He’s a massive upgrade on our bottom-6 and a serviceable player in the top-6.

Where else are you going to find that for 3.5M AAV without giving up significant assets?

The minors...except we've largely ignored the draft since Lou got here and thus we have nothing.

I want a rebuild, but clearly we're not getting it. So we will run essentially the same team back and management will sell Roy for a full year & a hopefully better Sorokin as being the difference.

I'm sure Duclair is a useful player. But he's not the guy who puts us over the top. We're about 4 players away from being a cup contender, and considering we have nothing to trade for, and no top talent ever signs here as a FA, we are destined to be mediocre at best, missing the playoffs at worst, not nearly bad enough for the lottery.

We're in no mans land. Can't win a cup, and we aren't in a good draft position to dramatically improve.

Simply put, Lou's gotta go.

 

[LeapOnOver]

I'm thinking they try Barzal-Horvat-Duclair in preseason, but Barzal is going to have to be more responsible defensively for it to work.

Seems like the type of player who scores on the rush...probably not a fit there with Barzal's enter the zone and play keep away for awhile. I'm guessing he was brought in to do what Engvall was supposed to do. This will push Engvall down the lineup if he can find the back of the net more than tall fast guy who doesn't hit.

 

[Glorydays22]

A few things to note about Duclair

- Speed and an incredible burst
- great one timer
- he finishes on breakaway and 1 on 1 chances ( this might be the most important thing for us.)

but how is he on the shoot out?

 

[WangMustGo]

The minors...except we've largely ignored the draft since Lou got here and thus we have nothing.

I want a rebuild, but clearly we're not getting it. So we will run essentially the same team back and management will sell Roy for a full year & a hopefully better Sorokin as being the difference.

I'm sure Duclair is a useful player. But he's not the guy who puts us over the top. We're about 4 players away from being a cup contender, and considering we have nothing to trade for, and no top talent ever signs here as a FA, we are destined to be mediocre at best, missing the playoffs at worst, not nearly bad enough for the lottery.

We're in no mans land. Can't win a cup, and we aren't in a good draft position to dramatically improve.

Simply put, Lou's gotta go.

A rebuild like the Sabres or Detroit? f*** that I want nothing to do with 10 years of miserable hockey. You don’t rebuild when you have Sorokin, Barzal, and Dobson all in their prime.

 

[The Real JT]

He’s a massive upgrade on our bottom-6 and a serviceable player in the top-6.

Where else are you going to find that for 3.5M AAV without giving up significant assets?

Engvall signed for $3M x 7 years with a third round pick to acquire him.

The Duclair deal is pure gold in comparison.

 

[Moist ReadOnly]

8 teams in 9 years.

Nothing wrong with journeymen

 

[impaaaaaact]

I’m Haitian so this is basically an instant jersey buy for me. I’m also Jewish so it’s actually crazy we drafted a (presumably) Jewish kid #1 and then signed a Haitian guy in FA. Doesn’t usually happen!

Seems like he thrives creating breakaways for himself and burying one timers. Is it crazy to think that the optimal spot for him might be with Pageau? They’ve played on a line together before, and from the clips I watched it seems like he’s more of a chance creator than beneficiary..: might even elevate Pageau back to a palatable level

 

[impaaaaaact]

All of his goals for SJ came off the rush and most of his goals for Tampa came off of puck movement in the zone. If he gets a shot in the top six he will score 30 this year.

He’s paced for 27+ his last three healthy seasons (over 5 years). He’s not old and he’s playing with a coach who knows him well. I think 30 is a perfectly reasonable prediction.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

Nothing wrong with journeymen

There might be if you're one by 25.

 

[Moist ReadOnly]

There might be if you're one by 25.

Ive not heard of character issues (at least not since his very early Arizona/Ranger days) and he produces well for his role; I dont see anything wrong with this deal unless you believe the locker room is shaky

 

[impaaaaaact]

There might be if you're one by 25.

He scores goals. Is that bad now?

 

[ekill08x]

he checks a lot of boxes and makes $3.5m and people are complaining. funny fan base. love the signing. we are limited with the cap and roy wanted him. still hope one more move is coming.

 

[Green]

first signing I am happy with in several years, always felt he should have been an Islander

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

He scores goals. Is that bad now?

I didn't say it was bad. But, 8 teams moved on despite that.