The latest Blackhawks rumors have the Hawks targeting disgruntled Coyotes forward Anthony Duclair.
The Chicago Blackhawks currently sit in last place in the Central Division. Granted, they are still very much in the postseason hunt. However, Chicago has never been content with their team. They’ve been quite active each year around the NHL trade deadline and this year is no different.
Meanwhile, the Arizona Coyotes have one of the league’s most intriguing trade candidates in disgruntled Anthony Duclair. According to Elliotte Friedman, the two sides are discussing a trade which would send the talented forward to Chicago.
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This would be a very intriguing fit for Duclair. He certainly needs a change of scenery. And Duclair is certainly talented enough to warrant taking a flyer on. However, the Hawks aren’t Stanley Cup contenders. That said, acquiring Duclair is a move which could pay dividends in the future, as he’s a restricted free agent after this season. And the cap-starved Blackhawks can definitely afford his reasonable cap hit.
It’s hard to gauge what kind of return the Coyotes will get for Duclair. He’s already requested a trade, which kills a lot of their leverage. Also, Duclair hasn’t been doing much to build up his trade value. Since putting up 44 points during the 2015-16 season, he has merely 30 points over his last 91 games.
Teams don’t want to pay fair value. Much like buying a car, general managers don’t want to pay the listed price for a player. They look for every excuse to lower the price. And Duclair’s upside isn’t enough to ignore his struggles over his past two seasons.
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Expect the return to involve at most a second round pick. Most likely, it will be a mid-round pick. Duclair could be going into an enviable situation if he gets playing time with Patrick Kane.
UPDATE: (6:16 p.m.)
Richard Panik and Adam Clendening are a part of the deal.
Quenneville says Panik has been traded for Duclair. There are two others involved too, but wouldn’t say who.
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) January 10, 2018
UPDATE: (6:35 p.m.)
The trade is official.
It's official: #Blackhawks acquire forward Anthony Duclair and defenseman Adam Clendening from ARI in exchange for Panik and Dauphin: https://t.co/FZ5piPUdRA https://t.co/Kd805m30FM
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 10, 2018
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