Anthony Duclair has been a true professional during his time in the bay area. Guiding some of the young players into the grind of being an NHL player while trying to help the production of the offense in his own right, Duclair has shown himself to be a player that can take on the leadership role any team he plays for. That combined with this blistering speed and offensive know-how will make him a great depth piece on almost any team.
With that said, Duclair finds himself in the rumor mill once again. When he arrived from Florida, he was a cap dump because the Panthers couldn't afford his $3 million anymore. That was a team that needed to re-evaluate its depth, and the Sharks picked him up for cheap. Now, he's played well as a Shark, and his production doesn't truly reflect how strong he's been. He's creating chances on his own, but the lack of true talent on the forward core has plagued the entire team.
As for the production he does have, Duclair's put up nine goals and eight assists this season, so it's not totals that are going to blow teams away, but it's still enough that teams will come calling if they cannot land the high-end talents available at this deadline. Duclair's a sensational depth piece and was a strong top-nine performer on the team that made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. He's a strong player for teams that want to go deep.
As a cheaper option, Duclair is going to draw interest. He won't need the retention slot the Sharks still possess. Moving him will be far easier, and it is a deal that seems like it could be much cleaner. Something like a third-round pick in the upcoming NHL draft for the services of the Duke seems like a deal that would work out for all parties involved. Perhaps that is more optimistic than logical, but it rests in the hands of Mike Grier.