After the New York Islanders‘ 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at UBS Arena, head coach Patrick Roy didn’t hold back in his assessment of Anthony Duclair’s performance. After the team’s practice on Thursday morning, Duclair confirmed a shocking decision about his immediate NHL future—one that could have major implications for the rest of the season.
Mired in a six-game losing skid, the Islanders are witnessing their Stanley Cup Playoffs hopes vanish into thin air during the 2024-25 NHL season. The locker room has felt the pressure and frustration continues to mount as the puck bounces the other way, night in and night out.
The loss at home against the Lightning was the straw that broke the camel’s back on the bench, as Roy lost his temper after the game, dropping a very harsh comment on Duclair’s evening in Elmont.
When the Isles returned to the ice for morning skate on April 3, Duclair was nowhere to be seen at the team’s facility, raising eyebrows along the media attendees. After the scrimmage, Roy confirmed he held a deep conversation with Duclair, who reached a crucial decision.
Head coach of the New York Islanders Patrick Roy speak with the media prior to the game against the Winnipeg Jets at UBS Arena on March 04, 2025 in Elmont, New York.
“This morning, Anthony and I had a very good conversation, a very positive one, and Anthony asked me to take some time off to reflect,” Islanders head coach Patrick Roy told reporters, via NHL.com’s Stefen Rosner. “Obviously, I agreed to that, and we’ll give him all the time that he needs.”
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NHL News: Islanders HC Patrick Roy drops vivid confession about Anthony Duclair, throws him under the bus
What’s next?
With Duclair’s future filled with uncertainty, the Islanders could be without the skilled, blazing winger for the remainder of the NHL season. Just eight games remain on the horizon for New York, and the team appears to be waving the white flag in their postseason hopes.
“At the end of the day, we’re doing it to ourselves,” Bo Horvat admitted after the loss to Tampa Bay. “We’re just making the wrong plays and the wrong mistakes at the wrong time. I mean, I don’t think they outplayed us by any means tonight. We make the same mistakes over and over again that are costing us. At the end of the day, at this time of year, we’re trying to make a push here. It’s just not good enough.”
Roy’s comment
“He was god awful. He had a bad game,” Patrick Roy said about Duclair after the 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay, via Bleacher Report. “That’s why I didn’t play him a lot. And he’s lucky to be in the lineup. Sorry if I lose it on him right now, but that’s how I feel.”
Anthony Duclair #11 of the New York Islanders skates during warm up prior to the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 2, 2025 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
All odds against them
It will take a miracle for the Long Island-based NHL franchise to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as they stand five points behind the second wild card spot and face the 13th toughest remaining schedule, per Tankathon.
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The Canadiens, who currently hold the last ticket to the postseason in the East, will face the third easiest schedule from here onwards. Calling the Islanders’ situation a lost battle might be an understatement.
