Ek's Note: I wanted to tell you all how happy we are to welcome Russ Cohen to Hockeybuzz.com! Russ has been covering the NHL and NHL Prospects for many years and has even penned a few books on the Rangers. We are thrilled that Russ will be our NY Rangers beat writer, joining Jan Levine, who will assume the role of columnist for the team. This combination gives us what I believe is the best Rangers coverage on the internet. (and that's coming from a Flyers fan!)
At the 2013 draft, he was 17 and one of the youngest players drafted. He was a student of Patrick Roy with the Quebec Remparts at the time and he was a guy who could fill the net in the QMJHL.
“Coming into the “Q… as a 16-year-old has really helped me and the times I had in Quebec City the past three years have been unbelievable. Patrick Roy had coached me for two years and then Philippe Boucher an experienced NHLer who won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Experienced guys like that taught me how to play the right way,… Duclair said.
His speed was never in question. He could always lead the rush. He knows how to get into scoring position with or without the puck. He got to play with Mikhail Grigorenko (12rh overall pick in 2012) and Adam Erne (33rd overall pick in 2013). So why did he drop to the third round?
He was 5-11, 177. That’s why. And at the time didn’t play an NHL brand of defense. Those were the “knocks… but the Rangers and Gordie Clark saw past that and selected him with the 80th overall pick, the Rangers third pick in that draft, their third 3rd round selection. To say they could have the steal of that draft would be fair.
“An offensive guy like myself I wanted to make sure that I’m playing a two-way game at both ends of the ice. I want to be responsible defensively because if you do that you’ll be successful,… Duclair stated.
When I asked how much muscle he put on he replied, “10 pounds… and out of uniform it’s noticeable and that’s what you have to do as a young player to get ready for the rigors of NHL life. “I worked out off-ice with weights. Obviously I’m one of the smaller guys every year I’m progressing and putting on weight every summer.…
Last year when Duclair was putting up huge numbers Clark told me on my show “Hockey Prospect Radio… that he needed to chat with the young man to get him to play a full 60 minutes. Clark thought he was getting by on sheer talent but wasn’t giving it his all every shift.
Fast forward to preseason and you can see that’s exactly what he does.
“I think I made a pretty good first impression,… he said after his first preseason game. “I was able to stay consistent all the way through and I have a chance to prove it again tonight.…
That was in a game against the Flyers where he scored his second goal of the preseason.
He’s a whistle to whistle guy and now he’s going to play for the Rangers tonight on a line with J.T. Miller (who also has something to prove) and veteran Lee Stempniak.
Having played in the “Q… against one of the Flyers top prospects, Sam Morin, he talked about the toughness that kid has in the corners and on the ice.
“For sure. I’ve known him since I was little, pee wee age. He’s one of the taller guys and he plays a rough and rigid game. Now it’s pretty fun to play against him at the pro level,… he said.
Fans can get excited about that because it’s the next generation of the Flyers-Rangers rivalry. As for now this kid will start to face teams with their complete lineups and the St. Louis Blues are a heck of a test for him considering their talented blueliners.
Check out my new Ranger book here.