Report: Flames eyeing Anthony Duclair as piece in potential Noah Hanifin trade with Panthers

The Calgary Flames continue to engage in trade discussions with teams interested in acquiring left-handed defenseman Noah Hanifin and, as TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday, they have their eyes on Anthony Duclair from the Florida Panthers.

Hanifin, 26, is entering the final season of the six-year, $4.95 million AAV deal he signed with the Flames back in 2018. He collected seven goals and 38 points while averaging 22:39 in 81 games with the Flames during the 2022–23 regular season.

Even after trading Tyler Toffoli to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, the Flames still have six 2024 unrestricted free agents left to deal with this summer. Owing to his age and position, Hanifin might just have the most trade value of them all.

Duclair, 27, missed much of the 2022–23 regular season while recovering from a torn Achilles. The speedy winger racked up nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 20 games with the Panthers upon his return to the lineup and added 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 20 games during the Panthers’ run to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.

Duclair also has one year left on his deal, which carries a $3 million annual cap hit. He’s eligible to hit the unrestricted free agent market next summer, although the Flames would be eligible to sign him to a contract extension on July 1.

Jonathan Huberdeau spent much of his career-best 2021–22 season playing on a line with Duclair, who racked up 31 goals and 58 points that year. The Flames could be banking on the two of them rediscovering their old chemistry if they were to be reunited in Calgary.

The New York Rangers originally selected Duclair in the third round (No. 80 overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft. The five-foot-eleven winger made his NHL debut with the Rangers in 2014–15 but was traded to the Arizona Coyotes at that season’s trade deadline.

Duclair has collected 122 goals and 261 points in 490 games over parts of nine NHL regular seasons with the Rangers, Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, and Panthers. He’s added five goals and 14 points in 34 playoff contests.