Colby Guy
SUNRISE — Just days after ending his foundation’s first hockey camp in South Florida, Anthony Duclair found out the Florida Panthers were trading him to the San Jose Sharks.
“There were rumors before and you try not to look into it too much,” Duclair said.
“But for myself, getting traded was not the best feeling because I built so many relationships down here. With my teammates, with the community, the fans. But at the same time, I went to a great opportunity.”
In his three years with the Panthers, Duclair became a staple in the South Florida hockey community.
He launched the Anthony Duclair Foundation with the goal to reach out to children who have experienced racism in their lives and to help them overcome it.
The relationships Duclair built in the process helped him become a role model for many, which will make his first game against the Panthers tonight a bittersweet moment.
“I‘ve met a lot of fans over the years and built relationships with a lot of them,” Duclair said.
“I’m just looking forward to seeing some familiar faces tomorrow. I’m sure it’s gonna be a good atmosphere and I’m very excited to be back.”
Duclair had been traded three times prior to signing to the Panthers in 2020.
This return has a bit more meaning to him.
The speedy forward bet on himself and signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Panthers while negotiating as his own agent.
Duclair then signed a three-year, $9 million deal of which he is currently in the final year of.
In his three years in South Florida, he scored 43 goals and 99 points in 137 games.
That included a 30-goal season and a Presidents’ Trophy win in 2021-22 and a run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2023.
“It’s going to be special, for sure,” Duclair said.
“This was not my first time getting traded but it’s going to be pretty good. Obviously, with the run we had last year it is pretty emotional and there is so much that went into it. In those kinds of runs, you build relationships for a lifetime and you still connect with those guys.
“It’s just gonna be cool to see those guys again.”
The 28-year-old put himself through a lot to return to the team in time for its run to the playoffs.
Duclair tore his Achilles tendon during an offseason workout and missed the first five months of the season.
With coach Paul Maurice implementing a new system in his first year with the team, he attended every meeting while doing everything he could to return.
“He had a big smile and we loved having him around,” Maurice said.
“There are guys that get injured that you want in and out of your building by 9:30 so they don’t bring everyone else down. He was the opposite. We just wanted him around so much. He just has a wonderful joy for the game and laughter. That part we certainly miss.”
While he put up four goals and 11 points in the postseason, his impact was felt in more ways than just that.
“That was such a difficult injury for him to come back from and he did,” Maurice said.
”Sometimes, the most important things you do for a team is put other people in better places to play and when he came back we eventually had Nick Cousins go with Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk and it let us put together a third line that was very good.
“So he gave us more depth that allowed other players to play with better players.”
Duclair’s impact in South Florida goes well beyond hockey and he will likely see the fruits of it on Tuesday night.
“South Florida is always going to have a special place in my heart,” Duclair said. “I had a great three years here and I am looking forward to tomorrow.”
As he turns the page, Duclair is looking forward to a new opportunity in San Jose for many reasons.
The Sharks have the first Black general manager in NHL history, Mike Grier, who happens to be the brother of Miami Dolphins GM Chris Grier.
With his help, Duclair has an opportunity to help kids in yet another market that could use his support.
“I love that I’m going to a non-traditional hockey market. It’s a chance to grow the game and that’s what I’m all about,” Duclair said.
”There’s a great opportunity here in California to do some good work and obviously playing for the first Black GM in NHL history — a guy I grew up watching — is pretty special. I’m sure down the road, I am going to open up some doors to continue to grow my foundation, help the San Jose Sharks foundation and do whatever I can to make hockey more accessible for kids in California.”
The idea of becoming a leader both on and off the ice excites Duclair a lot, and that is exactly what he has the chance to do on a young San Jose team.
“Mike called me right away and explained to me how big the opportunity is for me here,” Duclair said.
“There is a chance to continue to grow as a player in a leadership role. Being here, I’m just growing as a man, trying to help the younger guys become pros. I learned a lot in my three years here and now I’m trying to take that to San Jose.”