Bad news has struck the New York Islanders as veteran forward Anthony Duclair has suffered a lower-body injury that will keep him out of the lineup for the time being. The Islanders, who have struggled to find consistency this season, were dealt a significant blow when their general manager Lou Lamoriello broke the news on Monday.
Speaking to the media, Lamoriello revealed that Duclair suffered a lower-body injury that is severe enough to put a sizeable dent in the Islanders‘ lineup for the foreseeable future. However, there is a silver lining for the Islanders. Despite revealing that Duclair will be out for an extended period, Lamoriello made it clear that the 27-year-old forward is not expected to miss the rest of the season.
For Islanders fans who were bracing themselves for the worst, this news is as welcome as it is frustrating. After all, while no team ever wants to be without one of its veteran leaders, at least Duclair will have an opportunity to return and contribute to his team’s push for the playoffs.
Since joining the Islanders, Duclair has been a reliable presence up front and provides a level of depth that any team would be envious of. His absence, however, presents an opportunity for other players to step up and stake their claim for a spot in the lineup.
In his brief address to the media, Lamoriello made no bones about the challenge that lies ahead for the Islanders without Duclair. Despite this, the team’s front office remains optimistic that the roster has sufficient depth to overcome this latest setback.
With some tough games on the horizon, the Islanders will need to muster all the resilience they possess if they are to stay in contention. Without Duclair, the onus will fall on the remaining players to keep the ship afloat.
When Duclair returns remains to be seen, but one can bet that the 27-year-old will come back stronger than ever, ready to play his part in what will hopefully be an Islanders’ postseason run. Until then, New York fans can only keep their fingers crossed that the injury bug doesn’t claim too many more victims.