Anthony Duclair has a clear goal heading into the new season.
The 22-year-old winger signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes worth a reported $1.2 million, and will become a restricted free agent once again next summer. In order to secure a bigger and better contract, he knows he must make good on this opportunity.
"I just want to prove myself with this one-year deal," Duclair said Sunday, per the team's website. "Obviously, last season was a little rough for myself. It was a good learning experience but at the same time, I just want to prove this year that I can play at an elite level like I did my rookie season and hopefully have a better contract next summer."
Following his first full season with the club, there was no question about his place as a fairly significant building block. A down 2016-17, however, put his ability to hang at the NHL well in doubt, resulting in a 16-game AHL demotion ahead of restricted free agency this summer.
| 2015-16 | 2016-17 | |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 81 | 58 |
| Goals | 20 | 5 |
| Assists | 24 | 10 |
| Shots | 105 | 76 |
| Shooting % | 19.0 | 6.6 |
To be fair, expectations in year two may have been as inflated as his shooting percentage the previous season, but it's clear Duclair's game tailed off by a wide margin.
The arrival of a new voice behind the bench in head coach Rick Tocchet should help, according to general manager John Chayka.
"He’s a goal scorer but he’s got a touch with the puck and he can make plays," Chayka said of Duclair. "It’s more about using his skating to be more involved and that’s Rick Tocchet’s system.
"If he can use his skating to put pressure on defenses, turn pucks over and if that leads to him spending more time in the offensive zone with talented players, they can set him up and he can put them in the net. It’s just a holistic approach. You’ve got to be committed to 200 feet of the ice and Tocchet is going to push him to do that."
Chayka added other contract options were offered, but Duclair chose the one-year deal in hopes of putting himself in an even better position next summer.
"Our stance was if he wanted term and dollars, it would be on our terms or he could have the option of taking the one-year deal and kind of earn that right," said the GM. "He took the one-year option and we're glad in some ways because now he's going to go out and earn it."
And clearly that's what he's intent on doing.
Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.