Anthony Duclair came to the Islanders knowing he would be playing with Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat
DALLAS — In a recent casual conversation assessing the Islanders’ chances this season, a former player who has been around the NHL for more than two decades opined that Anthony Duclair could “break out” this season — his 11th in the league — and become a 40-goal scorer while skating with Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal.
Duclair, who signed a four-year, $14 million deal to join the Islanders — his ninth team — to complete that top line, does not set specific personal production goals. But he acknowledged before the Islanders opened a three-game road trip against the Stars on Saturday night at American Airlines Center he has at least thought about the 40-goal mark after setting a career high with 31 for the Panthers in 2021-22.
“Yeah, for sure,” Duclair told Newsday. “It’s always nice to score goals and that’s what I’m here to do. When the hard work and consistency comes, the goals come by themselves. Everyone’s different but for me, personally, if I don’t think about that stuff I think it comes naturally instead of me putting out a goal and if I don’t reach that goal then doubt starts to creep in. So it’s kind of a mental battle."
Duclair exited the Islanders’ season-opening 5-4 overtime loss to Utah on Thursday night at UBS Arena on an 82-goal pace after opening the scoring with a power-play goal off his skate.
Of course, expecting a goal-per-game all season is obviously unfathomable.
But even half of that would be an extreme accomplishment for the Islanders, who have not had a 40-goal scorer since Anders Lee reached that mark in 2017-18 in Barzal’s rookie season and John Tavares’ last with the club.
Brock Nelson paced the Islanders with 34 goals last season, his fifth straight season leading the team in that category. Horvat had 33 goals and 35 assists last season while Barzal had 23 goals and 57 assists.
But Duclair’s speed and play around the net has created more time and space in the offensive zone for his linemates to operate.
“Yes, absolutely,” Roy said. “I think Bo and Barzy will benefit out of Anthony’s play. That’s what we call a line. They’re going to help each other. There’s going to be nights where it’s going to be Barzy, there’s going to be nights where it’s Bo and there’s going to be nights where it’s Anthony. We like that.”
“I think the three guys are all gifted offensively,” defenseman Noah Dobson said. “They see the ice really well offensively. Lots of speed on the line where they can create time and space.”
The Islanders’ top trio showed a quick chemistry through preseason and training camp. Duclair said he knew immediately when he signed with the Islanders as an unrestricted free agent on July 1 that he would have to play with Horvat and Barzal.
“Just watching their highlights over the summer I just know how to play and I know Patrick, what he expects of me,” Duclair said. “So all that into consideration, this summer was really preparing for that just to make sure that I’m ready to play with those guys. It’s a high pace, a high level of skill. It’s something I enjoy to do.”
The linchpin, of course, is Barzal’s somewhat unique offensive creativity. He enjoys operating in the offensive zone with the puck on his stick and often attempts passes that can even surprise his linemates.
“They have to be worried about him out there,” Barzal said of Duclair in acknowledging he’s finding more time and space on the ice. “He also just has good offensive reads that allow me to play offensively. There’s still room to grow.”
Notes & quotes: Defenseman Dennis Cholowski and forward Julien Gauthier remained healthy scratches . . . Stars coach Pete DeBoer noted the Islanders are playing a more aggressive style of hockey under Roy and added their roster was built “to compete.” DeBoer, who coached the Devils from 2011-14 while Islanders president/general manager Lou Lamoriello ran that franchise, also credited his old boss. “There’s no better team builder, in my mind, in the game for knowing what wins in the playoffs and at the tough time of the year,” DeBoer. “You can see what they’re trying to do there.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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