OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – Patrick Roy and Anthony Duclair have resolved their differences this summer, after the legendary goalie and now coach of the New York Islanders harshly criticized the winger’s performance at the end of last season. Roy, after a defeat in early April, called Duclair’s game “terrible” and “not up to what we expect from him.” Duclair took a leave and did not play another game. Duclair revealed that Roy traveled to his Montreal home during the summer to apologize, and both expressed their desire to leave the tense situation behind. Duclair explained that he was still dealing with the effects of a groin injury that kept him out of the game for two months.
The player added that he believes it was all due to a lack of communication on everyone’s part, including himself. Roy, for his part, considered the conversation with Duclair to be “really good” and regretted his comments after the game.I told him I didn’t need an apology, I just needed him to know I was playing injured, and he told me he really didn’t know the extent of the injury.
Duclair
Duclair, who turned 30 on August 26, explained that his groin muscle completely detached from the bone last October and did not heal as quickly as expected. After scoring two goals in five games before getting injured, he only managed five goals and four assists in the following 39 games, culminating in Roy’s criticism for not skating and not competing.It’s an emotional game, and sometimes you say things, but the result didn’t do us any good. I feel like it was more negative than anything else, and I think Anthony trusted me a lot, and I felt like I let him down a bit.
Patrick Roy
Duclair scored 24 goals in the 2023-24 season for San Jose and Tampa Bay and signed a four-year, $14 million contract with the Islanders as an unrestricted free agent. Now, in the second season of that contract and after spending more time rehabilitating, he is working to be fully healthy for opening day.We are in a performance sport, and we have expectations and I am sure Anthony has his own, but that is already in the past and I want to look towards this year and I really hope that Anthony starts as he did because he had a very good start. When he returned from his injury, it was a bit more difficult for him for some reasons. But I want him to be who he was before he got injured.
Patrick Roy
Roy anticipates that Duclair will start training camp on the third line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Simon Holmstrom.My goal is the first game of the regular season and to be ready for that. I’m going to take all the time that’s necessary during training camp, the preseason, whatever.
Duclair
