Colorado Avalanche: Predicting the 2015-16 Top Scorers

Top Scorer Candidate #1 – Matt Duchene

Feb 5, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) controls the puck late in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings at the Pepsi Center. The Red Wings defeat the Avalanche 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

As Mile High Sticking writer Jeremy Lambert recently wrote, he is ready for Matt Duchene to step up. There probably isn’t anyone who is not ready for that.

In the lockout-shortened season of 2012-13, as well of that of 2013-14, Duchene scored almost a point per game. To be exact, it was 43 points in 47 games in 2013 and 70 points in 71 games in 2014. Then came last season, which was, as said before, a slump by the entire team.

While less and less players even make it to the 80-point mark anymore — only five players made it in 2014-15 — Duchene should at least get close to that. After all, he was supposed to be just about as talented as John Tavares, who was drafted first overall in Duchene’s draft year 2009, and was one point short of winning the 2015 NHL scoring title. Not only was he supposed to be that good, but he still looks like one day he should be able to get close to what Tavares does.

2014-15 point total: 55 points

2015-16 projection: 70 points

Next: Conclusion