Arizona Coyotes: Something Must Give For Anthony Duclair

Nov 17, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Arizona Coyotes forward Anthony Duclair (10) warms up against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won in overtime 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 16, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Arizona Coyotes right wing Radim Vrbata (17) shoot the puck against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

More Quality Playing Time:

Believe it or not, 35-year-old Radim Vrbata is leading the way this year in scoring.

While he and Duclair are both right wings, maybe Duke could be tried at left wing to see if he and Vrby have any chemistry. Throw in Martin Hanzal at center to win face-offs and this could be a very solid possession line.

This would also correlate to an increase in overall ice time.

Currently, Duclair averages 13:22 TOI per game, less than everyone other than Lawson Crouse and Ryan White.

That ice time slots him in as a fourth line right wing behind Rieder, McGinn, and Doan.

That doesn’t sound like the kind of recipe that will break him out of the slump.

Tuesday night Duke was given nearly twenty minutes of ice time and scored his first goal in 22 games. He even put up five shots.

That’s the kind of usage one of the team’s most skilled players needs to see.

Oh, and maybe give him some time with Max Domi when he returns from injury. I’ve heard they make a pretty good team.

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