In a surprising turn of events, New York Islanders forward Anthony Duclair is stepping back from the team, as confirmed by head coach Patrick Roy on Thursday. This announcement follows a harsh critique from Roy after Duclair's performance in a disappointing 4-1 defeat against the Tampa Bay Lightning, where the coach labeled him as "god-awful."

After Duclair was notably absent from practice that morning, Roy took the opportunity to address the situation with reporters. "Obviously, you saw that Anthony was not at practice today," Roy stated. He added, "This morning, Anthony and I had a very good conversation, a very positive one, and Anthony asked me to take some time off and reflect. So I obviously agreed to that, and we'll give him all the time that he needs."

Duclair's performance in the loss was indeed troubling, with the 29-year-old logging just 12:15 of ice time and ending up with a minus-1 rating. During the critical third period, he was only seen on the ice for a paltry four shifts. Post-game, Roy did not hold back, stating, "He was god-awful. He had a bad game. That's why I didn't play him a lot. He is lucky to be in the lineup. Sorry if I lose it on him right now, but that's just how I feel."

Critics have pointed out that Duclair's recent struggles seem to stem from an effort issue. Roy remarked, "He's not skating, he's not competing, he's not moving his feet. He's not playing up to what we expect from him. ... I think it's an effort thing." This critique is more troubling considering Duclair signed a significant four-year, $14 million contract just last July.

Throughout this season, Duclair has only accumulated 11 points (7 goals, 4 assists) and has a career-worst minus-15 rating over 44 games. Interestingly, his contract includes a full no-trade clause lasting through 2026, leaving fans to wonder about his future with the team.

As the Islanders struggle, winless in their last six outings and trailing the Montreal Canadiens by five points for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, all eyes are on both Duclair and the team as they face the Minnesota Wild this Friday. With only eight games left in the regular season, will Duclair find his footing again, or has the pressure become too overwhelming?

Duclair's career totals stand at 314 points (153 goals, 161 assists) across 607 games with nine different teams, beginning his journey when he was selected by the New York Rangers in the third round of the 2013 NHL draft. This turmoil within the Islanders organization presents a dramatic chapter that fans will be eager to watch unfold.

Stay tuned for updates! Will this break provide Duclair the clarity he needs to turn his season around?