Anthony Duclair Could Be a Bargain for the Islanders
Anthony Duclair and the Islanders are a potential match made in heaven. He could become one of the best bargain contracts of the offseason if the Isles opt to sign him. Duclair had a bounce-back year with the Senators after a miserable 2018-19 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, posting a respectable 23 goals, 17 assists and 40 points in 66 games before the season ended. He was a first-time all-star for the Atlantic Division.
In any other year, Duclair would surely have a contract by now, but since COVID-19 has drastically impacted the NHL financially, Duclair and other prominent free agents are sitting idle on the open market. Due to this, cap-strapped contenders looking to bolster their roster have an opportunity to sign skilled players that would otherwise be unaffordable. This is where the Islanders come into play.
The Islanders have to sign pending restricted free agent Mathew Barzal. While he is a core piece for the Islanders and should be a priority, Duclair can prove to be that top-six forward the Islanders could desperately use to help improve their offense. The Islanders were in the bottom-10 in goals last year and adding a potential 20-goal scorer will surely help them surge next season.
While one may be concerned with the Islanders overpaying for Duclair, that is simply not something fans should be worried about. While the financial issues teams may be facing is one, recognizing who the Islanders general manager is should also be remembered. Lamoriello, especially with the COVID-19 climate encompassing the NHL, would not allow Duclair to be overpaid in any regard. A guess at what Duclair’s next contract could look like would be along the lines of a one- or two-year deal with an average annual salary of less than $3 million dollars. While this number may fluctuate, any team able to get Duclair for this price is only going to be benefiting from his skillset.
If the Islanders get the all-star caliber player Duclair is to a cheap deal, there is no reason why it wouldn’t become one of the best contracts in the NHL immediately. Goal scoring costs a premium in today’s NHL, and with teams handing out term and money without much regard for the future, this signing would be one of the best to come from this offseason. Now it just depends whether Lou Lamoriello wants to take a flyer on the former Senator.
