The New York Islanders are gearing up for a playoff push, with the trade deadline looming on Friday at 3 pm. In the hunt for bolstering their top-six forwards, the Islanders are expected to be active in the buyer's market.
Currently, the team is maxed out with 23 active players, meaning they'll need to make some moves to accommodate any new additions. One potential player on the move is Anthony Duclair.
Duclair's Potential Departure
Anthony Duclair, who inked a four-year deal with the Islanders back in the summer of 2024, is facing a challenging situation. His contract includes a full no-trade clause for the first two years and a 16-team no-trade clause for the remaining two. Despite an impressive January, Duclair has found himself out of favor with head coach Patrick Roy, spending more time in the press box than on the ice.
David Pagnotta, an NHL Insider from The Fourth Period, shed some light on the situation during The Hot Stove segment on NHL Network Radio. He noted that the Islanders have been exploring trade options for Duclair earlier in the season, although they haven't recently approached him about waiving his no-trade clause.
“They’ve been trying to move Anthony Duclair,” Pagnotta explained. “He has a full no-trade this season.
I believe they asked him earlier in this season to waive it - he declined. I don’t think they’ve really explored that since, or at least they haven’t gone to him since.
But Anthony Duclair’s name has been out there this season… but don't be surprised if he ends up getting flipped at some point.”
Come July 1, Duclair's full trade protection will lessen, requiring him to submit a 16-team trade list. This means if the Islanders want to trade him, now would be a strategic time, giving Duclair more say in his destination this season rather than next. As the deadline approaches, Duclair remains a key player to watch if Mathieu Darche continues to make moves.