Anthony Duclair's absence from the New York Islanders has been confirmed by head coach Patrick Roy, following a critical appraisal of the player's recent performance. Duclair's struggles culminated in a disappointing showing during a recent loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, prompting Roy to describe his effort as 'god-awful'. During their conversation, Duclair expressed a need for time off to reflect on his play, which has seen him register a career-low minus-15 rating over 44 games this season.

Despite signing a lucrative four-year contract earlier this season, Duclair's struggles have mirrored the Islanders' broader team challenges, as they find themselves winless in six games and trailing the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. With just eight games left in the season, the Islanders are in a precarious position, needing to improve not only Duclair's performance but also the team's overall results to secure a playoff berth.