The name Anthony Duclair may seem like a relatively young name within the ranks of the NHL, but it might shock you to learn that the 25-year-old is set to enter his 7th NHL season when the puck drops to kick off the Florida Panthers' 2020-21 campaign in less than two weeks time.
While Duclair has had a few bright spots in his career, none seemed brighter than his 23-goal, 40-point performance through 66 games for the Ottawa Senators this past season - a contract year.
The Pointe-Claire, PQ native decided to bet on himself and test the open market this offseason, turning down an offer to remain in Ottawa that could have earned him upwards of $4M on a short term deal. Instead, Duclair signed for less - a LOT less - when he accepted a one-year, $1.7M contract with the Florida Panthers.
It's not all bad for Duclair, though, as he appears to be at the front of the line for a huge opportunity in Florida, as Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville has confirmed early on Sunday that he will open camp on the top line, alongside Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov.
Should this experiment yield success in Panthers training camp, Duclair could find himself in line for a career year - albeit a shortened 56-game one - that could result in dollar signs in 2021 when he negotiates his next contract, either in Florida or elsewhere.
Remarkably, the Panthers will be the 6th NHL franchise that Duclair will have played for in his 7 seasons in the NHL. He has 162 career points in 353 career NHL games. The 2013 draftee (3rd round, 80th overall) has yet to taste postseason action.
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