Anthony Duclair to represent the Ottawa Senators at 2020 All-Star Game

OTTAWA, ON - DECEMBER 29: Ottawa Senators Right Wing Anthony Duclair (10) applies pressure on the forecheck during second period National Hockey League action between the New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators on December 29, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - DECEMBER 29: Ottawa Senators Right Wing Anthony Duclair (10) applies pressure on the forecheck during second period National Hockey League action between the New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators on December 29, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The 2020 NHL All-Star rosters have officially been announced and the Ottawa Senators will be represented by Anthony Duclair.

Anthony Duclair has earned his first-ever All-Star selection after an excellent start to the 2019/20 season with the Ottawa Senators, who acquired him in a trade last season.

The trade, which looks to have been a stroke of genius for general manager Pierre Dorion, saw the Senators acquire Duclair and 2nd round picks in 2020 and 2021 in exchange for Ryan Dzingel and a 2019 7th round pick.

The trade so far has clearly worked in the Sens’ favour, with Dzingel leaving the Columbus Blue Jackets to join the Carolina Hurricanes in free agency, while Duclair has played arguably the best hockey of his entire career.

More from Editorials

Since arriving in the Canadian capital, Duclair has scored 29 goals and has 45 total points in 61 regular-season appearances. If this was his stat line across one season, it would have eclipsed his single-season record of 20 goals and 44 total points from back in 2015/16.

This season alone, Duclair has 21 goals (31 points) and is on pace to hit 40 by season’s end if he can maintain his current scoring pace.

The 24-year-old from Laval, Quebec leads the team in both goals and total points, fully deserving of his first All-Star appearance in St. Louis late next month.

All of this comes after former head coach John Tortorella questioned whether or not the young Canadian forward could play hockey.

Fast forward less than a year and Duclair is proving the brash veteran coach wrong, earning a hattrick against his former team to pile on the misery of what is becoming an excellent trade for the Ottawa Senators.

Duclair’s future in the Canadian capital is still a question mark, with the impending RFA earning just $1.65 million this season. If the Senators want to bring him back after this season, they may need to give him a significant pay rise.

Until that decision is made, the Ottawa Senators will continue to enjoy Duclair’s play and revel in the positive attention it brings for both club and player.

Next. Nilsson taking the next steps with the Sens. dark

What do you think Sens fans? Are you pleased to see Duclair recognised for his performances this season? What sort of deal with you like to see him offered after this season? Or would you prefer the team cashed in on such a valuable potential trade piece? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!