Matt Duchene, BSN Denver can state with certainty, is in Denver. On the day the Avalanche’s veterans are to report for training camp, this fact highly suggests he will report to the team.
At press time, it still remains to be seen whether Duchene actually reports to the Pepsi Center along with the rest of Avalanche veterans and other camp invitees. Duchene, who has been on the trade block for quite some time, hadn’t been in town for recent team events such as a charity golf outing and informal practices. For the past several days, he had been in the Toronto area.
(Update: Duchene has, indeed, reported to the Pepsi Center and is with the Avalanche this morning).
It figures to be weird around the Avs’ dressing room, with a player who had expected to have been traded by now, occupying his regular stall again. For how long that happens, only general manager Joe Sakic knows. But as of yet, no proposed trades for the Canadian Olympic gold medalist and NHL All Star have met to his satisfaction.
So, until told otherwise, Duchene must soldier on as an Av. He has two years left on his contract, with a $6 million cap hit. The Avs want a young, top-4 defenseman, and maybe more, for him in trade.
Can this still have a happy ending, if this becomes a protracted, forced reconciliation? The odds would seem against it.
But stranger things have happened.
(BSN Denver’s Jesse Montano contributed to this report)
0 Comments (6 conversations)
I kind of wish Duchene stays.
Yep, I would be happy if he stays. In years past he almost worshiped Sakic – there should be a way to fix the issues.
Stranger things have happened
AceODale
Be the man, Matt.
mladen
I think it will be just fine. the press is just trying to create issues so they’ll have something to write about.
No, we never do that!
mladen
LOL I needed that
Unit5
Hey Adrian, have you BSN guys considered not causing a distraction by asking about a trade. If you did, I’d be on your side if you strangled anyone else that did. Not that I’m getting sick of the subject, or anything.
Matt Duchene, it seems to me, has always carried himself as a real professional! Yes he gets streaky during the season and, for lack of better words, seems to lack the mental balance to better handle the ups and downs of his personal game. But as far as taking responsibility for his own shortcomings, taking one for the team, and frankly getting through tough periods, he is no cop-out! And allegedly that’s the stuff that builds real character… and maybe i actually want that kind of player on my team.
Nels
It seemed to me like Duchene didn’t just give up on the Avs last year, but on hockey in general. Maybe it had something to do with being punched in the face behind the play and given the first concussion of his career without even so much as a penalty being called, when there should have been a suspension to the offending player. I believe that was when the Avs were about 9-9, right about the time their whole season derailed….