Duclair’s Preseason Setback

Anthony Duclair’s return from last season’s torn groin injury has been approached with care by the Islanders during training camp. Initially, it looked like he was making good progress and set to play his first preseason match against the Rangers on Thursday. However, an unexpected upper body injury changed those plans.

Duclair wasn’t just absent from the Thursday game—where the Islanders rallied to win 5-4 with three goals in the third period—he also missed practice sessions leading up to it. The team reassured everyone that this new issue was unrelated to his previous injury.

Coach Patrick Roy mentioned that with only three preseason games remaining before the regular season starts on October 9th, he hopes Duclair can participate in at least one of them. But he refrained from giving a definitive timeline on Duclair’s return.

“I’m dealing with this upper body injury, but I’m hoping to be fine and ready to play soon,” Duclair stated. “We’re not rushing things; we want to ensure everyone is healthy when they step on the ice. We’ll see how it progresses.”

Given Duclair’s limited play last season, missing him during the preseason adds a layer of concern. He focused heavily on rehabilitation, and being sidelined now complicates his readiness for game action.

“My priority is being prepared for game one of the regular season,” Duclair expressed during a recent golf outing with the team. “We’re taking this step by step, whether it’s through training camp or preseason.”

However, there’s lingering uncertainty regarding his performance, especially after he played just five games last season before stepping away for personal reasons.

“It’s crucial for him to get some game time,” Roy noted, acknowledging the balance between getting Duclair back into playing shape and ensuring his health.

In another preseason update, Daylan Kuefler also suffered an upper body injury during the first period of his game, and the team is currently waiting to see how that evolves before announcing a recovery timeframe.

In Thursday’s match, David Littic performed well, making 21 saves on 24 shots during the first two periods, while Marcus Hogberg stopped all five shots he faced in the third.

On a legal note, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the jock tax affecting athletes like Kyle Palmieri and others, which taxed non-resident entertainers and athletes, was unconstitutional.