Should the Oilers buy low on Anthony Duclair?

Both Craig Custance and Arizona Sports’ Craig Morgan have reported that Anthony Duclair has asked for a trade. Morgan says it’s unlikely Duclair will be with team in March as a rocky tenure in Arizona has both sides wanting a fresh start.

Duclair is 22-years old with a bumpy NHL career. He made the Rangers at 19-years-old but ended up back with the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. The Rangers included him in the Keith Yandle trade at the deadline and he’d score 20 goals and 44 points for Arizona the next season. Since then, Duclair has 29 points in 90 games over the past two seasons.

Duclair isn’t going to score on 19% of his shots again, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be an effective player. His ~35-point pace comes while playing only 13 minutes a night. Duclair’s 2.03 shots per game is a career hig and would be fifth among Oilers forwards and ninth total. Teams have always fared well in shot attempts with him on the ice, although in limited minutes.

Trading him has apparently been difficult. The cost ranges from a similarly struggling player to a draft pick, with varying interest. The Oilers need young scoring wingers. There are no NHL-ready forwards in Bakersfield, making Duclair enticing.

Duclair’s time in Arizona is ending, and looks like a reasonable buy-low candidate. Playoffs are unlikely but the Oilers can still test drive players for next year. Al Montoya was acquired, and it looks like he’ll be the backup next year with the extra year on his contract.

A second-round pick may be a bit high considering the Oilers’ place in the standings, but what about a lower draft pick or Ryan Strome? The Oilers have reportedly been disappointed in the trade and not committed to Strome. Duclair brings speed that Strome can’t but they’d lose another right shot in the lineup. Strome’s also makes double what Duclair does, but both are restricted free agents and the Coyotes have the most cap space in the league.

Duclair’s value will never be lower. Should the Oilers take a chance on a young, speedy winger?