The Chicago Blackhawks traded forward Richard Panik and Laurent Dauphin to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for forwards Anthony Duclair and defenseman Adam Clendening on Wednesday, the team announced.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet first reported the trade.
Clendening will report to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL.
Duclair, 22, has racked up nine goals and 15 points in 33 games this season for Arizona. He was drafted in the third round by the New York Rangers in 2013, and traded to the Coyotes in 2015 as part of a deal for veteran defenseman Keith Yandle. Duclair signed a one-year contract with a $1.2 million salary cap hit with Arizona last summer and is eligible to become a restricted free agent July 1.
Panik, 26, has six goals and 16 points this season after signing a two-year deal worth $2.8 million per year last May. He earned the contract after he set a career-high in scoring with 44 points and tied his career-high in goals at 22. However, he struggled to live up to his contract, going 11 consecutive games without a goal at one point this season.
By acquiring Duclair & his $1.2M cap hit, while trading away Panik & his $2.8M cap hit, the #Blackhawks reduce their overall salary cap number by $1.6M which they can now use down the road.
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) January 10, 2018
The 22-year-old Dauphin has only four points (three goals, one assist) in 32 games since being acquired from Arizona in part of a trade in June for Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson.
Clendening with reunite with the team that first drafted him back in 2011 with the No. 36 overall pick. He played in only four games in the 2014-15 season before being traded in January 2015 to Vancouver for fellow blueliner Gustav Forsling, who has etched his spot into Chicago’s lineup. The 25-year-old Clendening has scored 24 points (four goals, 20 assists) for six different teams, including Chicago, Vancouver, Pittsburgh, Anaheim, New York and Arizona.