Sharks acquire forward from cap-strapped Florida Panthers, per report
The San Jose Sharks have acquired Anthony Duclair from the Florida Panthers, according to multiple reports.
Duclair, who turns 28 in August, is entering the final year of a three-year, $9 million contract he signed with the Panthers in 2021. He is coming off a season in which he had nine points in 20 regular season games and 11 points in 20 playoff games as Florida advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.
It was not immediately clear who else was involved in the trade.
Duclair has surgery to repair an Achilles tendon injury he suffered last summer while off-season training but had 31 goals and 27 assists the year before when Florida won the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular season team.
It is believed that Florida is making the deal to help clear salary cap space. Prior to the trade, the Panthers had just over $600,000 in salary cap space with 23 players on the roster. The Sharks, conversely,
Duclair could fill a sizable hole in the Sharks’ top-six forward group that was left behind when they traded 40-goal scorer Timo Meier to the New Jersey Devils in February.
Drafted 80th overall by the New York Rangers in 2013 entry draft. In nine seasons, Duclair has 261 points in 490 games and 34 points in 14 playoff games.
Duclair will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this upcoming season.
Please check back for updates on this developing story.