Your Call: Should the Leafs trade for Duclair?

Multiple reports indicate that the 22-year-old former first rounder has requested a trade out of Arizona.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
Your Call: Should the Leafs trade for Duclair?
Keystone Press

According to a report from The Athletic’s Craig Custance, 22-year-old power forward Anthony Duclair has requested a trade from the Arizona Coyotes. The team has reportedly accepted his request and is actively taking offers on his services. This of course begs the question, “should the Toronto Maple Leafs make an offer?”

It’s easy to forget, since he’s been through so much during his short time in the NHL, that Duclair is just 22 years old. He’s a former 20 goal scorer at the NHL level and has the physical tools to be a big time impact player in the right situation. Having said that, he scored just five goals last season and is clearly in need of a change of scenery.

So, what’s he worth to a team like the Leafs? The left-shooting winger could be a fit in Zach Hyman’s spot alongside Auston Matthews or he could be a cheap replacement for James van Riemsdyk if the big Leafs winger elects to test the free-agent market this offseason. It’s likely that Coyotes GM John Chayka isn’t interested in taking on veteran players like JVR or Tyler Bozak as part of any trade package for Duclair. The Coyotes are a rebuilding team in need of future assets. Would the Leafs flip a high pick for Duclair? Or… how about moving one of their NHL ready goaltenders in Garret Sparks or Calvin Pickard

The Leafs certainly have the assets, on paper at least, to make a deal. It’s just a matter of what other offers are out there for the Coyotes and how they stack up against what the Leafs can offer up. Stay tuned, Leafs fans.