Three Sharks Players That Have to Be Traded Before the Deadline

Anthony Duclair

The Duke was one of the more savvy additions around the NHL over the course of the summer. Picking up a player with his skillset while not losing much was a good move by Mike Grier, and Anthony Duclair has disappointed in his production, but given what is around him, his five goals and two assists for seven points may not be the worst totals. You always want more, but he’s playing better recently.

Duclair has the ability to score. That, combined with his blistering speed, will give him value at the trade deadline. There isn’t a team in this league that doesn’t want a guy with a 30-goal season in the last three years in a depth role on their roster. What the Duke brings to a team, with his rapid speed and willingness to drive the net, will allow teams to finish their rosters happily.

Duclair only makes $3 million until the end of this season, too, meaning that he has quite an affordable contract in the flat cap era. Trying to fit this under the cap is going to be a lot easier for teams than trying to take on something like the Timo Meier deal last year. If the Sharks were to retain it, too, it could get lower, which would likely allow the Sharks to demand more for their asset.

A second for Duclair would be nice. I don’t think it’s farfetched either because of his skill set. Obviously, Duclair needs to up the production for the Sharks to have a true leg to stand on before they start asking for more, but this is a player who could certainly get the Sharks something nice in return at the trade deadline. With retention and a contract coming back, there could be a world where he nets a first-round pick for San Jose.