Anthony Duclair Bio
Anthony Duclair is a Haitian–Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward in the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on August 26, 1995, in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Duclair came into the league through the New York Rangers, who selected him in the third round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Over the course of his career, he has built a reputation as a quick, skilled winger capable of producing offensively, and he currently suits up for the New York Islanders.
Across more than a decade in professional hockey, Duclair has suited up for several organizations, including the Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks, and Tampa Bay Lightning. He is also recognized off the ice as one of the founding executive board members of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, an organization created to address intolerance and racism in the sport.
Early Life and Background
Anthony Duclair was born on August 26, 1995, in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, and was raised in nearby Laval. He is the son of Haitian immigrants Wendell Duclair and Dominique Raphael. Although his father and his uncle, Farell Duclair, both played Canadian football — with his uncle helping the Calgary Stampeders win the 86th Grey Cup in 1998 — Anthony gravitated toward hockey from a very young age.
Duclair began ice skating at the age of two and started playing hockey two years later. Growing up in the Montreal area, he became a devoted fan of the Montreal Canadiens, and his favorite childhood hockey player was Saku Koivu. He attended local schools that finished classes early in the afternoon, which gave him more time to devote to on-ice practice. In 2008, he appeared in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor hockey affiliate of the Canadiens, alongside future NHL player Frédérik Gauthier.
As an adolescent, Duclair played for the Lac St. Louis Lions of the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League. In 2011, the Lions won the Jimmy Ferrari Cup, and Duclair was awarded the Mario Lemieux Trophy as the top 15-year-old prospect in the league. The Lions later advanced to the Telus Cup, where Duclair scored two goals in their bronze-medal match victory over the Vancouver North West Giants.
Path to Professional Hockey
Duclair joined the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and spent three seasons developing with the program. During the 2013–14 season, he erupted for 50 goals in 59 games, a performance that earned him a spot on the QMJHL First All-Star Team. That breakout year confirmed his status as one of the top forward prospects in North America.
His junior success translated directly into NHL opportunity. The New York Rangers selected Duclair 80th overall in the third round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He signed an entry-level contract with the Rangers on January 2, 2014, and after an impressive training camp, he made his NHL debut on October 9, 2014. By the spring of 2015, after another productive stretch back with the Remparts, he was on the move again, this time to the Arizona Coyotes, where his next chapter would begin.
Anthony Duclair Career
Early Career (2014–2015)
Anthony Duclair opened his NHL career with the New York Rangers in October 2014. Playing on a line with J.T. Miller and Lee Stempniak, he posted five points in his first seven games and scored his first NHL goal on October 27, 2014, when he tied a game against the Minnesota Wild late in the third period before Mats Zuccarello scored the winner 37 seconds later. Despite that strong start, his production slowed, and because he was too young for the AHL, he was returned to the Quebec Remparts in January 2015.
Back in junior hockey, Duclair regained his offensive touch, recording 34 points in 26 QMJHL games and adding 26 points in 22 playoff games before the Remparts were eliminated by the Rimouski Océanic in Game 7 of the President’s Cup series. On March 1, 2015, he was traded, along with John Moore and two draft picks, to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Keith Yandle and Chris Summers.
Arizona Coyotes Breakthrough (2015–2018)
In Arizona, Duclair joined fellow rookie Max Domi, and the two quickly developed line chemistry that earned them the nickname “The Killer D’s.” The duo had built that bond at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, where they helped Canada capture gold. On October 14, 2015, Duclair scored his first career NHL hat trick in a 4–0 shutout victory over the Anaheim Ducks, with Domi also contributing a goal and an assist on the night.
Despite the early promise, his production dipped during the 2016–17 season, leading to a brief demotion to the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners on January 19, 2017. He returned to the Coyotes on March 3, 2017. By January 2018, Duclair had requested a trade, and on January 10, 2018, he was sent to the Chicago Blackhawks along with Adam Clendening in exchange for Richard Pánik and Laurent Dauphin. After a brief stint in Chicago, he was not tendered a qualifying offer and became an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2018.
Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators (2018–2020)
Duclair signed a one-year, one-way contract worth $650,000 with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 5, 2018, and recorded 11 goals and 19 points in 53 games. On February 23, 2019, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators, with head coach John Tortorella publicly criticizing him shortly before the deal.
With Ottawa, Duclair found his scoring touch again. On June 17, 2019, he signed a one-year contract worth $1.65 million, and he responded with 21 goals and 30 points in his first 38 games, leading the team in both categories. He was subsequently named the Senators’ representative for the 2020 NHL All-Star Game, held on January 25, 2020, in St. Louis. Off the ice, on June 8, 2020, he became an inaugural executive board member of the Hockey Diversity Alliance.
Florida Panthers Era (2020–2023)
After a contract dispute with Ottawa, Duclair signed a one-year, $1.7 million deal with the Florida Panthers on December 17, 2020. He quickly became an offensive contributor for the Panthers, and on July 15, 2021, he signed a three-year, $9 million contract extension. During the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, he posted four goals and seven assists, helping Florida reach its first Stanley Cup Finals in 27 years.
San Jose Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning (2023–2024)
On July 1, 2023, Duclair was traded by the Panthers to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Steven Lorentz and a 2025 fifth-round pick, a move driven by Florida’s salary cap considerations. On March 7, 2024, he was traded again, this time to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Jack Thompson and a 2024 third-round pick. He scored his first goal as a Bolt in his Tampa Bay debut on March 9 against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Lightning later fell in the first round of the playoffs to his former team, the Florida Panthers.
New York Islanders Era (2024–Present)
On July 1, 2024, Duclair signed a four-year, $14 million contract with the New York Islanders, marking a return to the organization that originally drafted him. On January 6, 2026, he scored a hat trick against the New Jersey Devils in a 9–0 Islanders victory, his first three-goal game since 2019 with the Ottawa Senators.
Driving Style and Strengths
Duclair is widely regarded as one of the league’s quicker wingers, with elite skating ability and a strong finishing touch around the net. His offensive instincts have produced multiple 20-goal seasons, and his best stretches have come when paired with a creative center, as evidenced by his prolific run with Max Domi in Arizona and his early surge in Ottawa. Consistency has at times been a challenge in his career, but his speed, shot, and willingness to attack open ice remain his defining traits.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Duclair’s career are his first NHL goal against the Minnesota Wild in October 2014, his hat trick against the Anaheim Ducks in 2015, his selection to the 2020 NHL All-Star Game, his role in helping the Florida Panthers reach the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals, and his hat trick for the Islanders against the New Jersey Devils in January 2026. His appointment as a founding executive board member of the Hockey Diversity Alliance in 2020 also stands as a significant milestone beyond the rink.
Anthony Duclair Career Wins
While “wins” in hockey are most often credited to goalies, Anthony Duclair has authored several of his own memorable winning moments. His game-tying goal against the Minnesota Wild in 2014, his hat trick that beat the Anaheim Ducks in 2015, and his three-goal performance against the New Jersey Devils in 2026 all qualify as signature scoring nights.
NHL Highlights
Duclair recorded his first NHL goal on October 27, 2014, against Darcy Kuemper of the Minnesota Wild. His first hat trick came on October 14, 2015, in a 4–0 win over the Anaheim Ducks. His third career hat trick came on January 6, 2026, in a 9–0 New York Islanders victory over the New Jersey Devils, marking his first three-goal game since representing the Ottawa Senators in 2019.
Junior and International Highlights
Duclair won gold with Canada at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, where his chemistry with Max Domi foreshadowed their NHL success. He also won the Jimmy Ferrari Cup with the Lac St. Louis Lions in 2011 and was named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team in 2013–14 after scoring 50 goals in 59 games.
Anthony Duclair Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Anthony Duclair was raised in Laval, Quebec, by Haitian immigrants Wendell Duclair and Dominique Raphael. Although his father and his uncle, Farell Duclair, both played Canadian football — with Farell helping the Calgary Stampeders win the 86th Grey Cup in 1998 — Anthony chose to pursue ice hockey instead, supported by his family from an early age.
Personal Life
Public information about Duclair’s personal life has remained limited. He is known to have Haitian and Canadian heritage and has spoken about the importance of family support throughout his hockey journey. Beyond his role as an executive board member of the Hockey Diversity Alliance, his off-ice focus has largely centered on community and representation within the sport.
2025 Season Performance
Anthony Duclair entered the 2025 season coming off a four-year, $14 million contract signed with the New York Islanders on July 1, 2024. As a top-six forward on Long Island, he was expected to provide secondary scoring and power-play depth alongside the Islanders’ core group of established veterans and emerging young talent. His familiarity with head coach Patrick Roy’s system, combined with a full training camp, gave him a stable platform to build on his late-2024 momentum.
Through the early months of the campaign, Duclair’s speed and shot remained central to his role on the wing. He continued to log significant minutes on the man advantage, where his quick release and net-front instincts give the Islanders a reliable scoring threat. His January 6, 2026 hat trick against the New Jersey Devils served as a clear sign that his offensive game was back to full strength.
Looking ahead, Duclair’s outlook in New York appears positive. Locked into a long-term deal and playing for a competitive roster, he has the opportunity to cement himself as a consistent middle-six scorer and a key contributor on the power play. If he can stay healthy and build on his recent production, he is well-positioned to post one of the most productive statistical seasons of his NHL career.
