Anthony Duclair’s bond with Patrick Roy made it ‘hard to say no’ to Islanders

Lou Lamoriello has always painted transactions as the art of the possible.

And with the Islanders having limited flexibility on the first day of free agency, it was coach Patrick Roy who bent what was possible into signing winger Anthony Duclair on a team-friendly deal while retaining Mike Reilly on the blue line, with the potential for further moves down the line.

“My connection with Pat, I think, was a big reason for me coming on the Island,” Duclair said after inking a four-year pact worth a reported $14 million to play for Roy, who coached him over a decade ago with the QMJHL Quebec Remparts. “He gave me a call this morning and told me that he wanted me. When a coach calls you and tells you he wants you on your team, it’s hard to say no. Especially when it’s Pat.”

In addition to Duclair, who will count for $3.5 million annually against the cap, the Islanders spent $1.25 million to retain Reilly for a year, per The Athletic.

That combination of moves drained the Islanders’ cap space to approximately $900,000 before any of their restricted free agents re-signed, begging the question of how they will free up room to complete their roster.

Islanders sign Anthony Duclair, re-sign Mike Reilly in NHL free agency

In the interim, though, Duclair’s signing marked a major addition as the former Rangers draftee figures to slot in alongside Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal on the top line, a spot the Islanders struggled to fill for all of last season.

“I think my job is to bring some speed, some offense,” Duclair said. “I’m not sure who I’m gonna play with but I think we have, just looking at the roster, a lot of good players up front and a lot of skill. I’m just looking forward to amplifying that for the group.”

The Duke, who turns 29 in August, lit the lamp 24 times last season with the Sharks and Lightning despite limited power-play minutes.

That is exactly the sort of punch the Islanders needed atop a lineup that has long struggled for scoring, and Duclair figured to be an option for them at the March trade deadline before being dealt to San Jose.

Islanders add two-time Stanley Cup winner Tommy Albelin as assistant coach

As for Reilly, keeping the defenseman on a short-term deal always looked like the path of least resistance for the Islanders, as it both rewards a player who earned a job last season after being picked up off waivers and allows the team to retain flexibility in the future.

Reilly should slot into the same blue-line role he played last season, on the left side of the third pair.

As things stand after Day 1 of free agency, the Islanders have a roster of 12 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders written in pencil, with qualifying offers extended to Simon Holmstrom, Oliver Wahlstrom and Ruslan Iskhakov, all restricted free agents. (While Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck both remained unsigned, the cap squeeze makes it tougher to envision the Islanders finding a way to keep the pair of veterans.)

Unless the Isles plan to open the season with a 22-man roster, there is a need to move out money and Shane Pinto’s situation in Ottawa offers the Islanders a rare chance to improve the roster while doing just that.

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Pinto’s agent Lewis Gross is seeking offer sheets as the player hits restricted free agency, per the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch.

Though Senators general manager Steve Staios said Monday that Pinto has not asked for a trade, a deal would be an obvious next step if the centerman wants out of the Canadian capital.

The Islanders, who could offer a center of their own in return (perhaps former Senator Jean-Gabriel Pageau, though that would make for some awkwardness since Duclair said that Pageau had called to welcome him to Long Island) along with draft capital, would be an obvious spot for the 23-year-old native of Franklin Square, who missed half of last season due to a gambling-related suspension.

Such a move would, in one stroke, get the Islanders younger, move out dollars and add more offense.

There are not many chances to kill three birds with one stone.

Pinto looks like one that could fall straight into the Islanders’ hands.

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