Anthony Duclair leaves the Islanders after public blow up with Patrick Roy

Earlier this week New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy absolutely ripped apart forward Anthony Duclair, telling the media that Duclair was "God awful and that "he's lucky to be in the lineup."

Today, Roy announced to the media that Duclair is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team following a "a long, positive conversation."

Read below for our earlier report on Roy's comments on Duclair, published yesterday by Hockey Feed staff writer Chris Gosselin.

I kind of cringed when I heard New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy talking about his own player Anthony Duclair following last night’s 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“He was god-awful,” Roy said postgame. “He had a bad game, and that’s why I didn’t play him a lot. And he’s lucky to be in the lineup. Sorry if I lose it on him, but that’s how I feel.”

He then added: “He’s not skating, he’s not competing, he’s not moving his feet. He’s not playing up to what we expect from him. It’s an effort thing.”

Duclair did struggled in the contest, logging 12:15 of TOI as Roy started sending his message in the third period. He sent out his forward for just four shifts while the Islanders trailed. Duclair was a minus-1 and credited with two shots, one block, one hit, and a giveaway.

Last offseason, the Islanders signed Duclair to a four-year, $14-million contract, reunion him with Roy, his former head coach with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts. The winger even claimed that he chose the Isles to play under Roy again.

This season, Duclair has been limited to just 43 games due to an injury, recording just 11 points. He entered Tuesday’s contest with one goal over his previous 11 outings.

The Islanders have lost six in a row and are five points back of a playoff spot with eight games left on their schedule.