New York Rangers Need to Let Anthony Duclair Play
By Matt Stillwell
@MattNYR12
Tom Szczerbowski – USA TODAY Sports
Once again, 19-year-old Anthony Duclair will be a healthy scratch for the New York Rangers when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday night. As a result, it is now the right time to question Duclair’s future for the Rangers this season, a discussion that is part unnecessary and part disturbing.
General manager Glen Sather will have to make a decision regarding Duclair’s season in the coming weeks. One of three things can happen: he can be returned to his junior team for the remainder of the season, be loaned to Team Canada for the World Junior Championships in December or the most logical option of all, keep him on Broadway.
If the purpose of coach Alain Vigneault keeping Duclair a healthy scratch in order to observe, learn and keep him fresh for the rigors of an 82-game season, then he would be wise put him back in the lineup. If Vigneault is simply punishing him for mediocre play, then it not only is a detriment to Duclair’s development, but to the team too.
Duclair made the team out of training camp for a reason. He dazzled the Rangers and their fans with his shot, speed and mature decision-making far beyond his years. Being replaced in the lineup by Jesper Fasth does not make the Rangers a better team.
While Fasth is a nice role player, Duclair has the skill-set and scoring touch the Rangers need if they have aspirations of making another deep playoff run. Duclair is a +2 with six points this season with an average time-on-ice per game of 12:27. Although these are not numbers that will win him any awards, the potential is still there. Come playoff time, Duclair may be a better NHL player ready to contribute at the level needed to push his team to a championship.
Vigneault needs to let Duclair get NHL minutes and take his lumps at the professional level. The Rangers are a much better team with Duclair than without him.
Matt Stillwell is a New York Rangers contributor for www.rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattNYR12!
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