'...A black eye for the game': New York Islanders draw criticism online as Anthony Duclair obeys team's rules, cuts off his dreadlocks

Lou's rules make the headlines once again as Duclair shares his mandated hair cut on social media

Chase Kell
Updated ·6-min read
Anthony Duclair is forced to cut his hair after signing a contract with the New York Islanders. (Photo credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports, @scottcwheeler)
Anthony Duclair is forced to cut his hair after signing a contract with the New York Islanders. (Photo credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports, @scottcwheeler)

Lou Lamoriello and his strict rules on player aesthetics are at it again.

Nearly two months after signing a four-year contract with the New York Islanders, forward Anthony Duclair decided to stop delaying the inevitable and cut off his hair. He knew this day would come, and after taking the summer to enjoy his final days with his long locks, Duclair did what he had to do.

After all, Duclair is now playing hockey on a Lou Lamoriello team, and Duclair knows the rules.

Lamoriello — a hockey legend who's been managing teams in the NHL for nearly 40 years — is one of the game's most respected executives, but his strict rules on how his players should present themselves have been well documented over the years. He's not a fan of long hair, and any form of facial hair during the regular season (playoff beards get a pass) is an absolute no-no.

As such, players on Lamoriello's teams are forced to adhere to his strict rules, even if they're a little sad as they post their freshly-cut hair on their Instagram stories.

Lamoriello's rules, as silly and archaic as they may be, have been a staple in his managerial style throughout his career, leading to some notable NHL haircuts over the years.

Former New Jersey Devils forward Kyle Palmieri was forced to shave off his signature beard after joining the Islanders in 2021, and Mat Barzal had to shorten his locks after letting the salad grow a little too long last summer. Lamoriello even brought his rules north of the border to Toronto, where Maple Leafs fans may remember forward Matt Martin cutting his long hair during Lamoriello's tenure as Toronto's GM.

And the rules don't just apply to Lou's players, as Islanders head coach Patrick Roy was forced to shave his beard when he was hired in January.

And yet, as documented as they may be, Lou's rules never seemed to ruffle the feathers of hockey fans quite like they have with Duclair, who created a fairly divisive online debate with his post on Instagram.

To some, there are potentially moral, cultural and racial implications in forcing Duclair to cut his hair.

While many seem to support Duclair's right to keep his hair as long as he wants, others on X were quick to mention that Duclair certainly knew about Lou's rules when the forward signed with the Islanders. And since he wasn't forced to sign a contract with New York, Duclair surely wasn't "forced" to cut his hair.

As a few noted in the X posts above, the New York Yankees have employed a similar rule since 1976. Those who don the famous pin stripes must not have hair that touches the collar of their sweater, and any facial hair — aside from a moustache, or course — is strictly prohibited.

Baseball fans surely remember when Boston Red Sox great Johnny Damon had to cut off his signature hair after signing with the rival Yankees back in 2006.

For the Yankees and Islanders, adherence to these strict grooming principles is about tradition and professionalism. The players are well aware of the rules when they join these two teams, but every once in a while the sports world is reminded of this tradition with a story such as Duclair's.

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