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Colorado Avalanche Future: 3 Possible Scenarios

By Nadia Archuleta

Mar 3, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy talks to his players during a timeout out called in the third period against the Florida Panthers at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche defeated the Panthers 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy talks to his players during a timeout out called in the third period against the Florida Panthers at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche defeated the Panthers 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 12, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey (27) battle for the puck in the first period at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey (27) battle for the puck in the first period at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Star on the Move: Matt Duchene

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I had initially been thinking Tyson Barrie might be a likely player to get moved in the off-season, but then I remembered his pending restricted free agency. It sounds like he might be going to salary arbitration, and he’s not going to get moved right after something like that — even if it gets sorted out in time for the beginning of next season.

Anyway, Matt Duchene’s name was linked to trade rumors at the beginning of the season. He had an extremely slow start, which is what spurred the rumors. He followed that with an historic November. Some say that made his trade value rise higher.

Indeed, Duchene has had a career-high in goals with 29. He was the Colorado Avalanche’s representative to the All Star Game. Crazily enough, he also has a team-friendly contract of $6 million per year through 2018-19 with no attachments — meaning he doesn’t have a no-trade clause. Madness.

Duchene could fetch the golden grail, a puck-moving defenseman with good size. General wisdom has it that the Colorado Avalanche need to shore up the blue line. What’s more, Duchene’s ever been a streaky player.

Here’s why I think this scenario is the least likely of the three: The return could never be big enough to mitigate the risk. This isn’t Paul Stastny or even Ryan O’Reilly revisited. Matt Duchene is borderline elite. He’s going to be a difference-maker. He’s going to have 30-goal seasons. It would be an unmitigated disaster to let him have those seasons with another team, especially when his contract is so team-friendly.

I’d be highly surprised — and greatly saddened — if this move came to pass. Whatever team we moved him to would win the trade from the get-go.

Next: Leadership Shift

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