Some steady business, given on-going cap constraints.
The New York Islanders addressed a couple of questions early in the first day of NHL free agency by bringing in a new forward and hanging on to a defenseman who worked out well for them last season.
Anthony Duclair, a 28-year-old left wing who has already been on eight teams (he even has the faintest Stench of Ranger) in his 10-season career, was signed to a four-year contract, as announced by the team. Elliotte Friedman reports it’s a $3.5 million average annual value (AAV) and cap hit.
Duclair was a Smurfs draft pick back in 2013, though the longest stretches of his career have been in Arizona and Florida. He’s scored in the vicinity of 20 goals four separate times, with a 19-goal season at age 23 and a career-high 31 goals for the Panthers in 2021-22 at age 26.
The other signing announced by the team was defenseman Mike Reilly, who played 59 games for the Islanders last season and added some much-needed puck movement and mobility after being claimed on waivers from the Florida Panthers. Capfriendly listed the signing as an unconfirmed $1.25 million.
Duclair is an interesting one, as he’s bounced around the league and signed one-year deals in Columbus, Ottawa and Florida. His stint in Florida earned him a three-year extension which worked out well, though he’s been traded twice since then. He also has a history with Islanders coach Patrick Roy dating back to their time in QMJHL Quebec.
The hope is clearly that Roy gets the best out of him while he’s potentially still in his prime. But no matter what, he should be an upgrade on what the Isles had on the left side last season.