Duclair took nothing for granted on road to Cup Final with Panthers

LAS VEGAS --None of this was guaranteed for Anthony Duclair. His NHL career was beginning to have that journeyman-type feel, with stops at the New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators, all before he turned 25.

After the 2019-20 season, Duclair took it upon himself to research the NHL and figure out where he might fit best and use the relationship he built with Bill Zito, formerly assistant general manager of the Blue Jackets who had just become GM of the Florida Panthers. He negotiated his own one-year contract, which he signed Dec. 17, 2020, and set himself up in South Florida.

It has worked out. For everyone.

"You always like that in a player, when they take hold of their own career," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said.

That's certainly what Duclair has done. He signed a three-year contract to stay with the Panthers on July 15, 2021, nearly two weeks before he could have become a restricted free agent. Though a torn Achilles tendon limited the forward to 20 games this season after he had an NHL career-high 58 points (31 goals, 27 assists) in 2021-22, the Panthers have found a home for him where he can be a productive and valuable asset.

Duclair has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 16 games of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He's scored a goal in each best-of-7 series, including one at 19:49 of the second period that tied Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final 2-2 before the Golden Knights went on to win 5-2.

"It was awesome," Duclair said. "It was a great feeling to see that puck go in. … It was huge. Just carrying that momentum. It's one of those things you dream about your whole life. You're finally here, so you don't want to take anything for granted."

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He will, again, be an important piece when the Panthers try to pull even in Game 2 at T-Mobile Arena on Monday (8 p.m. ET; TNT, TBS, truTV, CBC, TVAS, SN).

"We all have different stories, and we all have different paths that led us here," Duclair said. "I think for us we can all use inner motivation to battle every night."

One thing -- or one person -- that has made a tremendous impact on Duclair's game is Aleksander Barkov, the Panthers captain who's provided the ability to learn from and play off one of the best centers in the game.

"So now he's with a good player, who can in his play celebrate his strengths, feed those strengths, cover up his weaknesses, and have a great time," Zito said.

The fit has been perfect.

"Playing with a guy like that, obviously a world-class player, top-three in my mind in the world, he's made my job so much easier coming in here," Duclair said. "I just got a great opportunity when I came down here and lucky enough to be part of a great team."

And part of a line with Carter Verhaeghe that has worked and worked well.

"It just makes our jobs way easier," Duclair said. "We can just use our speed on the outside and try to make plays. But I think defensively, that's where it starts, is down low when you're not playing defense on the defense that long. It saves your energy, saves your gas for the offensive zone. [Barkov] is a huge part of that."

It's taken a long road to get here. Duclair had surgery July 2, returned to the lineup Feb. 24, and had nine points (two goals, seven assists). He might only now be back to playing his best hockey, his fastest hockey.

"This is a pure skater," Maurice said. "His No. 1 asset is he's incredibly fast. … But you're not even out there touching pucks for six months, so you're completely removed from your sport with this injury. He came back, his first five games back he was outstanding. He couldn't score, but he had 25 chances, and then he got sick on two separate occasions and that set him back.

"We felt just toward the very end, he scored in his last regular-season game, and we felt he was starting up and he has in the playoffs. He's continued to get better and better."

Duclair has found a tremendous amount of support with the Panthers, an organization that has brought the best out of him. This season and his NHL career have been a long road, but on both counts, he's thrilled to be here, so far away from where he started.

"I started training camp on a scooter on one leg," Duclair said. "If you told me I'd be in this position right now, I probably wouldn't believe you."