Fantasy buzz: Duclair has potential with Blackhawks

Forward Anthony Duclair will get a fresh start with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he'll have a chance to return to fantasy relevance in a top-six role.

Duclair (LW/RW, 3 percent owned, 396th in Yahoo) was acquired by the Blackhawks in a four-player trade with the Arizona Coyotes for forward Richard Panik (LW/RW, 17 percent, 264th) on Wednesday. Duclair has the most fantasy value to gain from the trade with an opportunity to play on a line with either Patrick Kane (20th in Yahoo) or Jonathan Toews (59th).
RELATED: [Duclair traded to Blackhawks by Coyotes for Panik]
Duclair will make his Blackhawks debut against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH; TSN3, NHL.TV) and is a value wing option in DraftKings ($3,800). He is expected to start on the third line alongside wing Alex DeBrincat and center David Kampf and could also see some power-play time.
Chicago also hosts the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday
before their five-day break
, making Duclair a viable add in season-long formats.
The 22-year-old averaged 13:27 per game for the Coyotes, but it's significant that he led them in goals per 60 minutes (1.22) through 33 games. He has had a high shooting percentage (13.2 percent; nine goals on 68 shots on goal), but did have a much higher rate as a rookie in 2015-16 (19.0).
He had NHL career highs in goals (20), assists (24), plus/minus (plus-12), 12 power-play points and 105 SOG that season in a top-six role primarily with center Martin Hanzal and either wing Max Domi or Tobias Rieder to finish 140th overall in Yahoo. That's further proof that Duclair brings fantasy potential to Chicago.
Duclair, who can become a restricted free agent July 1, joins a Stanley Cup Playoff contender with the chance to get better usage in a lineup that has been clicking offensively. Chicago got off to a slow start but is 9-5-1 since Dec. 8, outscoring opponents 50-39.

How this trade affects Chicago's assortment of wings depends on lineup placement. Vinnie Hinostroza (C/LW, 10 percent owned) has been producing on a line with Toews and Brandon Saad, and Nick Schmaltz (C/LW, 33 percent owned) has become relevant again with 16 points (eight goals, eight assists; five PPP) in his past 14 games with Kane and Ryan Hartman. Schmaltz can play center or wing, giving Duclair a feasible path to a top-six role.
Chicago's third line could be even better once Artem Anisimov (upper body) returns from injured reserve. Panik had played on the third line lately with wing Patrick Sharp and Kampf, with DeBrincat bouncing from the third line to Kane's line in recent games.
Although Panik doesn't instill much season-long fantasy confidence moving to the Coyotes, he has sneaky DFS upside on the top line with Derek Stepan in his Arizona debut against the Edmonton Oilers on Friday (9 p.m. ET; FS-A PLUS, SNW, NHL.TV). Panik ($3,500) could also see first power-play usage against the Oilers, who are allowing the fourth-most DraftKings points to opposing right wings.
Panik had eight points (five goals, three assists) in his first nine games but has become known for his streaky play over the past two seasons. He had a seven-game pointless streak and a separate 15-game stretch with no goals and one assist this season.
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