Duclair hoping to prove he belongs
RALEIGH, N.C. – The scoring slump was the first sign of adversity, but it definitely wasn’t the last. A string of healthy scratches ensued. So did a demotion to the minors, and then trade speculation picked up – the combination making this season an undeniable struggle for Coyotes winger Anthony Duclair.
“It hasn’t been fun at all,” he said. “It’s definitely weighed on me.”
And while it may be too late to dilute the disappointment that’s headlined Duclair’s second year, there’s still enough time to prove he belongs with the Coyotes.
“It’s been a rough year,” Duclair said. “But I’m getting another opportunity here and gotta grab it and run with it.”
Duclair returned to the Coyotes lineup Friday against the Hurricanes after being recalled from the minors Wednesday. It was his first NHL game since Jan.18; he was sent to the American Hockey League the next day to rediscover a scoring touch that had gone missing in his second full pro season.
In 16 games with the Tucson Roadrunners, Duclair scored only one goal and had seven assists – an output that certainly suggests he didn’t accomplish the mission of the assignment. But the Coyotes felt they needed to bring him back to continue their evaluation.
“I think I could have played better,” Duclair said of his performance in the minors. “I’m not going to lie. Obviously, as a team, we’ve been struggling down there, too. But at the same time, I think I could have played better, way better, overall for sure.”
Putting the puck in the net wasn’t a struggle for Duclair a year ago when he was a rookie.
He buried 20, ranking third on the team amid an eye-popping shooting percentage of 19. But he didn’t pick up from where he left off when he returned for Year 2, contributing only three goals and nine points through his first 41 games.
“I just need to get back to those little things,” he said. “I had a lot of success last year, but this year’s been a totally different year. But I can have that confidence back and just get pucks to the net and just making little plays, and you build confidence that way. It’s not just going to go away. You gotta work at it, work through it.”
Coach Dave Tippett anticipates Duclair sticking with the Coyotes the rest of the season, an approximately fiveweek window to “re-establish himself as an NHL player,” Tippett said.
“We want him to play to his potential. Play to your potential. He set a standard for his play last year that he has to get back to. For whatever reason, he hasn’t come close to that this year. We’re looking to give him an opportunity to show that he can get back to that potential.”
Asked if Duclair has a footing in the team’s future, Tippett said, “He’ll dictate that,” and Duclair is aware it’s up to him to solidify his standing.
“I let management know that I want to be here for the future,” he said. “I need to earn my spot back and make sure I earn it for next year, too.”
Although he wasn’t traded before the deadline on Wednesday, Duclair’s name was certainly in the rumor mill – speculation that he acknowledged was tough for him as he said he didn’t get much sleep last week.
Now, with clarity, he wants to focus solely on his play – which he feels is what has to earn him a new contract. Duclair will be a restricted free agent in the summer with his entry-level contract set to expire after the season.
“I just want to be one of those guys that went through a rough sophomore slump and just came back stronger from it,” he said.
A second-year setback isn’t uncommon, and Duclair has talked to teammates – including captain Shane Doan – about what this season has been like for him. Doan was actually demoted in his third season, a stint that morphed into a footnote in his 21-season career.
Injury update
Defenseman Kevin Connauton will be sidelined week-to-week with an upper-body injury he suffered Thursday after getting crunched into the boards by Sabres winger Marcus Foligno.