New York Islanders player Anthony Duclair faced criticism from head coach Patrick Roy and was benched during a game against the New York Rangers. This benching follows Duclair's struggles this season after recovering from a lower-body injury that sidelined him for 28 games. His performance has been underwhelming, with only five goals and four assists in 30 games. Coach Roy emphasized the importance of Duclair improving his game and conditioning, especially with other players facing injuries as well. The decision to bench him comes at a challenging time for the team's offensive strategy.
I think it's a mixture of [the previous injury and his current play]. Roy said (h/t Islanders official site). The fact that he missed a lot of games, conditioning, and all this.
I'm not happy with his play, Roy said on Saturday night. I expect more from him.
The decision to bench a potential top-six winger at this time of the season is somewhat of a risky one for an Islanders team that needs all the offensive firepower it can get.
Duclair was made a healthy scratch for Monday night's clash with the rival Rangers at Madison Square Garden—a significant benching for a player who signed a four-year contract.
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