Let's Make A Deal: Chicago Blackhawks/Arizona Coyotes Edition

The Chicago Blackhawks have been struggling so it was only a matter of time before Stan Bowman made a move. It may not have been the move that most would have expected, but a trade was made with the Arizona Coyotes.

Bowman acquired forward Anthony Duclair and defenseman Adam Clendening from the Coyotes for forwards Richard Panik and Laurent Dauphin. Duclair will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, while Panik will still have another year left on his contract. The deal will help the Hawks save $1.6 million against the salary cap this year and another $2.8 million next season. It was a smart move by Bowman to get rid of Panik's terrible contract, and free up more cap space, while getting a younger NHL player in return.

Duclair, 22 years old, is playing in his third full season in the NHL. In 33 games so far, he has nine goal, six assists, 15 points and is averaging 13:27 of ice time per game. He also has three power play goals and one game winning goal. Duclair does have two goals in his last two games played, even though he has only been playing fourth line and power play minutes. Duclair has really been struggling this season with having been relegated to fourth line minutes and being a healthy scratch at times this year. His longest goal scoring streak has been two games this year.

Duclair is a natural goal scorer, has a quick release, and can play either side of the wing. He needs to work on his defensive game, and become more consistent. The forward does have a hat trick this year which came back in November against the Ottawa Senators. He has passed his goal output from last season and has tied his point total from last season while playing just 33 games. A fresh start and a change of scenery should do Duclair good especially since he should be in a top nine role, and not stuck on the fourth line. He could see top six minutes since he will add some speed and scoring depth to the team.

Adam Clendening played in five games with the Coyotes this year and had two assists. He averaged 15:56 of ice time per game. The defenseman played most of the season with the Tucson Roadrunners, the AHL Affiliate of the Coyotes, where he had one goal, four assists, five points and 40 penalty minutes in 26 games played. Clendening just can't seem to stick with one organization. He has been traded four times since 2015, and claimed off waivers once. He has also signed with two different teams during free agency the past two seasons. He can move the puck and is good in his own zone. When he's on the ice, he doesn't necessarily wow or overwhelm with this skill so that could be part of the reason that he has been traded so many times in a short period of time. The 25-year-old is a depth defenseman and every team needs those type of players to make the organization better.

Richard Panik is 26 years old, and has been struggling in his own right this year. He has six goals, 10 assists, 16 points and has averaged 14:17 of ice time per game in 37 games played. Panik signed a two year, $5.6 million deal last May, and that just hasn't worked out for the Blackhawks. He does have three power play goals on the season. The change of scenery could also work out well for Panik because there won't be any pressure on him in Arizona, where he could have a chance to flourish.

The forward does have the skill required to be a top six guy. Panik can score to go along with hockey sense. He can play a solid 2-way game and can be on the penalty kill, if need. He needs to get more consistent within every game and from game-to-game. The 26-year-old will throw his body around and get in on the forecheck. Panik has one goal, one assists, two points and nine shots on goal in his past five games. He will be relied on to score some goals and play solid defense for the Coyotes, who have young players on the roster.

Laurent Dauphin will return to the Coyotes, who traded him to the Blackhawks in the offseason in order to acquire defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson. Dauphin has been playing with the Rockford IceHogs, the AHL Affiliate of the Blackhawks. In 33 games, he has four goals, 10 assists, 14 points, three power play goals and one game-winning goal. He will add speed to the lineup alongs with energy. Dauphin can also skate and create for himself or his teammates. The Coyotes are getting a player that they know a lot about in Dauphin.