Exclusive Interview With Islanders Forward Anthony Duclair On Buidling Chemistry With His Linemates & The Power Play

Dukie, as his teammates call him, chatted with Stefen Rosner about playing with Mathew Barzal & Bo Horvat through two days of training camp.

EAST MEADOW, NY — Following group two’s skate on Friday, I caught up with New York Islanders newcomer Anthony Duclair to get his thoughts on building chemistry with Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal and working on the power play so early into training camp.

Q: What’s it been like getting to know your new linemates?

Duclair: “It’s awesome. They’re skilled guys. Marty, too. Marty, good skill (Martin was poking fun at Duclair during the interview). He had the best goal in camp so far. But it's been good to get some reps with Horvy and Barzy. Obviously, it's a long year, so I'm sure everyone's gonna play with everyone at some point. So, I’m just trying to make sure that you build chemistry as fast as possible. That's ideal going into the preseason.”

Q: The talk has been about the chemistry between you and Barzal, but what can you say about the chemistry between you and Horvat thus far?

Duclair: “I’ve known Horvy for years now. I played with him Under-18 for Team Canada. So I know his game really well. It’s a 200-foot game. He’s very sound defensively. He’s one of the best centermen in the league. I am just looking forward to playing with him. He’s a guy that's reliable. He's got a good stick, and he obviously can score, so he's got the full package. And then, obviously, with Barzy, it’s the same thing. He has so much skill. So, I'm just trying to communicate each and every day, trying to get better. I know that we're talking just here and there about offensive plays and things like that. So, as we go forward here, I think we're going to build more and more chemistry.”

Q: How important is it that you guys, on day two, are already working on the power play? How important is it to get a head start and establish that?

Duclair: “It's huge. I've been on teams where you don't start the power play until the team's finalized. Some don’t do it until almost opening night. So, I think it's great just to get those touches and sometimes just have the ability to see the play. Even today, it wasn't all out, just 50%, but just trying to get those reps in different positions and stuff like that.

Q: Today, power play coach John MacLean had you on the right wall in the one-time spot. Is that usually where you play on the power play?

Duclair: “Oh no, I’ve played everywhere. Net front, bumper. I’ve play a little bit on the half wall, so I told Mac, wherever you want me, it doesn't matter to me.”