The New York Islanders have announced that forward Arnaud Durandeau has been recalled from their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders, on an emergency basis. The recall puts Durandeau in a position to make his NHL debut at the age of 24.
A sixth-round pick at the 2017 draft, Durandeau impressed scouts with his tenacity and feisty scoring ability. He scored 41 points in his draft season, before improving to 53 the year after and then 38 goals and 73 points in his final QMJHL season with the Halifax Mooseheads.
Durandeau signed a two-year, two-way extension with the Islanders over the summer, capping off an impressive breakout professional season. Durandeau’s pro debut in 2019-20 was uneven, and he spent 15 games in the ECHL. The following year, Durandeau scored eight points in 14 AHL games, and then last season he saw his production tick up quite a bit, to 15 goals and 37 points in 64 games.
He helped Bridgeport reach the AHL playoffs, and returned this season with the expectation that he would resume playing a major role. He has done just that, and ranks fourth in team scoring with 33 points in 48 games, behind two veterans in Chris Terry and Andy Andreoff, as well Ruslan Iskhakov, one of the Islanders’ top prospects.
While it’s unlikely that Durandeau plays any sort of major role for coach Lane Lambert during this emergency recall, he is the type of player who can impress in limited minutes. He’s grown to be a well-liked contributor in the AHL, and it would be no surprise if Islanders fans take a quick liking to his work ethic.