Colorado Avalanche: Exploring a Matt Duchene Trade with St. Louis Blues

Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene is likely on his way out this summer, and the St. Louis Blues could be an option.

Make no mistake, Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene is an elite center. He had an off year last season production-wise, but he still lead the NHL in face-off percentage. That’s an intangible that many teams will drool over.

Also, even with stretches of a complete lack of production, Duchene was still able to rack up 41 points. He will return to form, and he will be a force when he does.

So, even if his value may be a bit low right now, teams still know what they’re getting in any trade involving Matt Duchene. Joe Sakic also knows what he is trading away.

The point is, trading him should still yield a sizable return, and the St. Louis Blues may provide a good trade partner.

What Would the Blues Have to Offer for Matt Duchene

Even though this article from STLToday.com calls a roster upheaval unlikely, it also sites a Blues’ interest in Matt Duchene.

The only problem is the asking price. Matt Duchene doesn’t come cheap, and the Blues may be unwilling to fork over what the Avs will ask for.

Right now, I believe the trade involves two big names and the first round pick the Blues have. The two names are Joel Edmundson and Jordan Schmaltz. Both are 23 year old defensemen, and both have bright futures in the NHL.

Edmundson has played the last two seasons in the NHL and his game is starting to come along. He had 15 points in 69 games this season. However, he was very productive in the playoffs with 6 points in 11 games, and a +12. He has a bright future, and he’s a left-hand shot so could slide into the top four for the Avs.

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Schmaltz on the other hand may be a bit further away from making an NHL impact. He cracked the lineup for nine games this season, and is expected to compete for a roster spot next season. However, he’s by no means a proven talent.

The fact of the matter is that there is no way the Blues are giving up both players for Matt Duchene; however, each player is likely to be a starting point in any Duchene trade. Other players the Avs may insist upon if they are trading Duchene are: Zachary Sanford, Ivan Barbashev, Tage Thompson and Vince Dunn.

Will a Deal Get Done?

Personally, I’d love for the Avs to find a way to get a deal done involving Joel Edmundson, the Blues first round draft pick, and a player like Barbashev, Thompson or Dunn. However, I think the Blues will balk at that price, and if they do the Avs should walk away.

Also, the Blues are in the midst of some salary cap trouble, and they need to resign defenseman Colton Parayko this offseason.

So, the likelihood of them trading for a center who makes 6 million = unlikely. However, there is definitely some potential here because the Blues have some intriguing young defensemen, and some forward prospects that the Avs would be interested in.

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Finally, the Blues are a Central Division rival, so it’s hard to imagine the Avs having an interest in trading one of their top talents to a competitor for the playoffs.

At this point, I’d say a deal does not get done, but the Blues are definitely still a viable trade partner. The Avs will certainly be exploring some options with the St. Louis Blues this offseason.

Any trade involving Matt Duchene could also happen very soon because the expansion draft is going to force a lot of teams’ hands.

Either way, keep your eye on the St. Louis as a potential trade partner, and definitely keep your eye on a Matt Duchene trade happening in the near future.