"Today we told him that he needs to shoot the puck," Huberdeau grinned when asked about Duclair. "He's a guy that's really fast. I think he's a great shooter. He had a good practice. I think he scored like 30 goals. I think he can be a great asset on our line. Let's see how it goes."
As a natural goal-scorer, Duclair knows he can count on his new linemates to get him the puck.
In fact, over the past two seasons, Huberdeau ranks tied for seventh in the league in assists (117), while Barkov is tied for 12th with 113. Additionally, the two also stand as the franchise's all-time leaders in helpers. Huberdeau sits first with 289, with Barkov not far behind with 252.
If he can create space for himself on the ice, Duclair knows they'll find him.
"I have one job and that's to get open," said Duclair, who lit the lamp 31 times in 87 games over parts of two seasons in Ottawa from 2018-20. "Those two guys are pass-first mentality. For myself, being a shoot-first guy, I think I fit in pretty good."
While Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville did previously mention that other forwards will likely get a look during camp on that top line, he was impressed with how Duclair fit early on.
"Duke had a real good practice as far as you notice him with his quickness, his pace," Quenneville said. "He complimented Huby and Barky's possession game."
When it comes to that possession game, Huberdeau believes Duclair can provide support.
"Obviously me and Barky like puck possession," Huberdeau said. "We get the puck in the offensive zone and stay with it. …That's what we want to do. Duclair is a guy that I think wants to play with us. We're going to help him, and he's a guy that's going to help us, too."
