The Chicago Blackhawks have made a deal with the Arizona Coyotes. They have acquired forward Anthony Duclair and defenseman Adam Clendening from the Coyotes in exchange for Richard Panik and Laurent Dauphin. The trade was reported by TSN's Pierre LeBrun on Twitter and was later confirmed. LeBrun also reported that no salary is being retained in this deal.

Duclair has a lot of promise being only 22 years old, and has been in the league for several years now, and Richard Panik had been struggling this season after a very productive 2017. This move not only gives the Blackhawks a young forward, but it brings back a familiar face in Clendening and clears away Panik's salary.

Duclair's upside

Anthony Duclair had originally began his NHL playing days with the Rangers in 2014-2015 at the age of 19. He then played the next several seasons in Arizona. In 2015-2016 he scored 20 goals and had 44 total points in 81 games. This year he has played in 33 games and has nine goals and six assists. He is set to make $1.2 million this year and will become a free agent next season. With the Blackhawks cutting away salary cap with this move, it is likely to assume other moves could be made.

As of right now, Duclair is a Blackhawk and he has an opportunity to play with Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and company.

His talent is being put on a team competing for a playoff spot, and, while the Blackhawks scored eight goals against the Senators the other night, the offense overall has been inconsistent. Coach Quenneville tends to blend his lines together, so where he goes remains to be seen. However, it is hard to break up the top line with Toews, Brandon Saad and Vinnie Hinostroza, so that seems highly doubtful.

Parting ways with Panik

Richard Panik (26) is now a Coyote. After scoring 22 goals and recording 22 assists last season, he struggled mightily this season. In 37 games he has six goals and ten assists while being a healthy scratch for a few games. He has only three points since November 18th, and only one goal since October 21st.

Set to make $2.8 million this year and $2.8 next year, the Blackhawks shed some solid salary with this move.

Panik came to the Blackhaws via trade involving Jeremy Morin in the 2015-2016 season, and had an impressive season and a half in Chicago before this year. While it seemed like giving him the money at the time was okay, it turned out to be a lot for a guy who suddenly started struggling this year. He very well can rebound and be solid in the future, but he very well may have played his best hockey with Chicago last season.
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