When NHL free agency began on July 1, the Islanders targeted and signed forward Anthony Duclair with the hope that he would be a great fit to play with Mat Barzal and Bo Horvat on the top line. Through training camp, pre-season and the early part of the regular season, that signing certainly worked out well, as Duclair had two goals and an assist through five games.
But in the third period of that fifth game, Saturday night’s 4-3 shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens at UBS Arena, Duclair suffered what appeared to be a serious right leg injury.
Duclair will be out for a while, as the team says he's sidelined indefinitely, but he is expected back at some point this season.
“It will be more long-term than short-term at this point but certainly not season-ending,” said President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello. "It’s part of hockey. This gives an opportunity to someone to come in and do what they do best.”
“We don’t like those injuries, especially the ones that could be long, so it’s always tough to lose a player like that,” said Head Coach Patrick Roy.
Simon Holmstrom took Duclair’s spot on the top line for the rest of Saturday’s game, and was back in that spot for Monday’s practice at Northwell Health Ice Center. There’s a chance he could assume that role on Tuesday night when the Islanders host the Detroit Red Wings.
“It felt good,” said Holmstrom. "I skated with them a couple of times last year so I’m a little familiar, which is nice. You don’t want to see (Duclair get hurt). It sucks for him and the team as well, so we just got to fill that spot and do our best.”
The Islanders will be calling up a player from their AHL team in Bridgeport to replace Duclair on the roster, but it’s Holmstrom who has the inside track on skating with Barzal and Horvat after making a case for himself on Saturday night, and again on Monday.
“He finished the game there,” said Roy of Holmstrom. “I was curious to see (Holmstrom) on that line. The way he was playing, I thought he had a good game against Montreal, so I was hoping to give him a try. He’s a possibility.”
The fact that Holmstrom has some experience playing with Horvat and Barzal will be huge, as the Islanders hope that Holmstrom can pick up where Duclair left off with a skillset that will help that line create scoring chances and, ultimately, goals.
Holmstrom definitely has those abilities, and now he has a chance to show them off.
“I think he’s super-skilled with the puck,” said Horvat. “He’s smart at both ends of the rink and I think he’s definitely got the speed to stay with Barzy and be on the rushes with us. He’s a great player.”
“I think he’s smart, he knows where to go, so hopefully we can create some chances and bury them,” said Barzal.
And based on his prior experience, Holmstrom knows exactly what he has to do playing with Barzal and Horvat on the top line.
“Stay on the puck, try to get open and try to create some space for them and still play my game and just be an option out there,” said Holmstrom.
Injuries are certainly part of the game, but losing Duclair is a huge blow to the Islanders this early in the season. If it is Simon Holmstrom who gets that first crack at filling the void, he’ll certainly have big shoes to fill starting on Tuesday night.