Islanders grant Anthony Duclair’s request for an indefinite leave of absence

Anthony Duclair has been granted an indefinite leave of absence from the Islanders, coach Patrick Roy announced Thursday morning after practice.

“Obviously you saw Anthony was not at practice today,” Roy said. “This morning Anthony and I had a very good conversation, a very positive one, and Anthony asked me to take some time off to reflect. Obviously I agreed to that. I will give him all the time that he needs. So that should close the discussion over Anthony.”

Roy publicly criticized Duclair’s play following Tuesday night’s 4-1 loss to the Lightning on Tuesday at UBS Arena in which Duclair was -1 with two shots on goal, a hit and a giveaway in 12:15 of ice time.

“He was god awful,” Roy said. “He had a bad game. That’s why I didn’t play him a lot. And he’s lucky to be in the lineup. I’m sorry if I lose it on him right now but that’s how I feel. 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.”

Duclair signed a four-year, $14 million contract on July 1, and was expected to bolster the Islanders’ offensive attack.

That did not happen.

Instead, Duclair has been limited to seven goals and four assists in 44 games this season, due in part to a groin injury early in the season that caused him to miss 28 games.

Duclair suffered the injury in the Islanders’ fifth game of the season, a 4-3 shootout win over the Canadiens at UBS Arena on Oct. 19. He was helped off the ice and was unable to put weight on his right leg.

“Once I fell there, I knew something was wrong. Something I never felt before,” Duclair said before his first game back on Dec. 21 against Toronto. “Right when I got into the locker room – especially [when] I couldn’t skate off on my own – I knew something was going on. I didn’t know the timeline but when I got the news, it was devastating. I’d only played five games and the season just started and it felt like I was starting to play well.”

He has struggled since returning, compiling just five goals and three assists for eight points in 39 games.

Without Duclair on Thursday, Roy shifted rookie Maxim Tsyplakov from the fourth line to the second line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Smithtown’s Kyle Palmieri. Matt Martin skated on the fourth line with Kyle MacLean and Marc Gatcomb, and the veteran will slot back into the lineup for Friday night’s game against the Minnesota Wild.

recommendedIsland Ice Ep. 213: Isles all but done; Stan Fischler interview

The Islanders (32-32-10, 74 points) have eight games remaining this season and trail the Canadiens by five points for the second and final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

“I just found out a couple minutes ago, so I’m excited to get back in the lineup and play a game,” said Martin, who has played in 24 games this season, the last occurring on Jan. 16. “It means a lot. [Any time] you can put on this crest and play with your teammates is a pretty special thing. It’s been a little while here so I’m looking forward to getting some game action and hopefully contribute to a win.”