Snapshots: Tavares, Connor, Duclair
While his free agency is still over a year and a half away, that hasn’t stopped the early chatter when it comes to Islanders center John Tavares. Speaking with WFAN in New York, Tavares commented on whether or not he plans to be an Islander for life (transcription via Andy Graziano of IslandersPointBlank):
“Yes, I’d like to be, for sure. I try to not think about it a whole lot. Obviously, I’m getting closer to the end of this contract but I’ve always stated how much I love being in New York and being an Islander, how well people have treated me here and the organization as a whole. We’ve had something good building here the last couple of years and I’d love to see it through. When that time comes, I want something to work out where both sides are happy and I remain with this team. Really good times are ahead for the franchise and I want to keep contributing to that and doing my part.”
Tavares has been with the Isles since being drafted first overall back in 2009 and it’s believed that if he were to make it to free agency in the summer of 2018, he would have no shortage of suitors, similar to the interest in Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos this past offseason. It was reported last weekend that the team was looking to acquire a new winger for Tavares to replace Kyle Okposo (who signed with Buffalo this offseason) with the hope that doing so could help entice him to stay long-term.
Elsewhere around the league:
- The Jets announced that they have assigned left winger Kyle Connor to their AHL affiliate in Manitoba. Connor, the 17th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, made Winnipeg’s roster out of training camp but has struggled so far this season with just a goal and three assists in 19 games. He had been a healthy scratch so this should be an opportunity to get plenty of playing time as the Moose play six times in the next 11 days.
- Coyotes winger Anthony Duclair is hoping to use his time as a healthy scratch earlier this week to start from scratch, writes Sarah McLellan of The Arizona Republic. Through 25 games, he has just four points which led to him being benched. One area of concern early on his lack of shots on goal as he’s averaging just over one per game. For someone counted on to be a top six scorer, that level of shot generation is well below average. Unfortunately for Duclair and the team, his play hasn’t really improved in his two games back in the lineup as he was sat down partway through last night’s game against Calgary.
Trade Snapshots: Hamilton, Duclair, Oduya
Brian Burke has been doing the rounds to try and squash the idea that Dougie Hamilton was ever on the block. He’s said that the rumors all stem from one team who called Brad Treliving with an “insulting” offer for the young defenseman, and Darren Dreger things he knows who that was. In today’s edition of Insider Trading on TSN, Dreger reported that the Arizona Coyotes offered Anthony Duclair and a draft pick for Hamilton around the time of the draft, but were quickly turned down.
In his wave of interviews, Burke did seem to think that a single GM had made it known to others that he’d made an offer, so if it was indeed John Chayka, perhaps this is simply a case of a new young GM not knowing (or agreeing with) the “way things are done”. The Coyotes have continued to make Duclair available in trade talks as the 21-year old continues to struggle through his second full season in the NHL.
In a segue of professional levels, Pierre LeBrun moved on to the Ottawa Senators who decidedly are not in on Duclair but have been working the phones looking for a bottom-six forward. While the team isn’t looking for a ‘big name’, they do need help with secondary scoring and GM Pierre Dorion has apparently been working the phones to try and find some help. A name that is interesting, though not mentioned in the segment, is the recently waived Reid Boucher of the New Jersey Devils.
LeBrun also mentions that the Dallas Stars are looking to deal from a position of strength as the season continues. Their blueline has been solidified by the breakout of Julius Honka this season, and may spell the end for Johnny Oduya who is a free agent this summer and still an effective puck mover. Even though the team lost Jason Demers, Kris Russell and Alex Goligoski this summer, they continue to pump out solid defenders and now have one too many. For now they’re content in waiting for everyone to get healthy, but as teams around the league struggle to find defensemen, they may find an offer that they just can’t refuse.
Coyotes Could Deal Anthony Duclair
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported today that the Arizona Coyotes are open to dealing forward Anthony Duclair. The Coyotes are not shopping Duclair, says Dreger, but they would listen and consider the right offer.
Duclair burst onto the scene as a rookie last year, scoring 20G and 24A in 81 games. He has failed to pick up where he left off, however, and has only 1G and 3A in 20 games this season. Duclair is shooting at a drastically low 4% success rate—which should improve as time goes on—but this slow start is concerning for both the Coyotes and the potential trade market.
Despite Duclair’s struggles, the Coyotes will not sell low at the moment. Dreger stated that the Coyotes want a centerman in return, but a good centerman is a hot commodity in the NHL. If a team does move a centerman for Duclair, there’s a good chance that it is a team who will have trouble protecting all their most valuable players in the expansion draft.
Coyotes Could Make Anthony Duclair Available
The Arizona Coyotes could make left winger Anthony Duclair available in a trade, reports Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos. Duclair is in his second season in the desert but has struggled considerably so far this year.
Last season, Duclair was part of a dynamic rookie duo with the Coyotes alongside center Max Domi. He had 20 goals and 24 assists in 81 games despite seeing predominantly second and third line ice time. This season, however, he has just a goal and two helpers through 17 games.
While Kypreos reports that Duclair “could be had for the right price”, it doesn’t appear that GM John Chayka is actively shopping him by any means and that the asking price would still be quite high.
A third round pick of the Rangers back in 2013, Duclair is in the final year of his entry level deal with a cap hit of just over $770K. He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
As for the other half of the rookie duo from last year, Domi – who has 13 points (2-11-13) in 17 games this season, remains untouchable according to Kypreos.
[Related: Coyotes Depth Chart]