Free Agency
BREAKING: Isles sign Duclair, Re-Sign Reilly
The New York Islanders have signed F Anthony Duclair to a four-year deal worth $3.5 million per season.
Anthony Duclair, 28, who, based on X/Twitter, most Islanders fans wanted to see added. He scored 24 goals and 42 points but really popped when he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the trade deadline. With Tampa, Duclair scored 8 goals and 15 points in 17 games.
Duclair is 28 and now returns to the state where his career started. The New York Rangers drafted him. Before that, Duclair played for Patrick Roy in the QMJHL and is now reunited with his former coach with the Islanders.
AFPAnalytics projected his deal to be 3x$4.3, and Duclair signed for four years. at $3.5 per. That is a massive win for the Islanders.
Elsewhere, the Islanders announced the re-signing of Mike Reilly. Reilly scored 24 points in 59 games with the Islanders, giving the team the effective puck-moving defenseman it desperately needed.
According to Arthur Staple of The Athletic, Reilly’s one-year deal is worth $1.25 million, which is an incredibly solid value.
Both deals fall below their expected market value. Lou Lamoriello’s very tidy work adds the speedy Duclair, who reliably can score 20+ goals.
The Islanders now have roughly $1.1 million left to sign three RFAs before any other depth is potentially added.
One has to think that a trade will come at some point to assuage that situation.
NYI Hockey Now will update this story as more becomes available.