Colorado Avalanche Forward Matt Duchene Likely to Stay With Team

The Colorado Avalanche are probably still listening to offers on Matt Duchene, but it’s unlikely that they’ll get one they agree to before the season starts.

Matt Duchene was once the face of the franchise, the savior for the Colorado Avalanche.

Now, he’s the guy who’s name is brought up in trade rumors daily. The guy everyone was sure would have been traded by now. And yes, the guy you have to wonder about for team chemistry if he’s still here come September.

However, as each day passes, it becomes more and more likely that Duchene doesn’t leave Colorado. Teams have loaded up in free agency, made their trades already and now there’s just one big name left on the market: Matt Duchene.

Unfortunately, even though he’s the best player available via trade, there are only a smattering of teams left who can trade for him. And, when you consider Joe Sakic’s asking price, it’s clear that a deal is going to be tough to get done.

However, is that such a bad thing? Is it really such a bad thing to bring a player of Duchene’s caliber back for at least one more year. He’s still only 26 years old after all. And, he can play the speed system, which is where Colorado is headed.

Ultimately, if the Avalanche choose to go that route, it may be the best option for both sides involved.

Matt Duchene Needs to Get His Form Back

Duchy clearly had a season to forget last year. After at one point being on pace for 39 goals with 10 goals in his first 21 games, Duchene was only able to muster 18 on the season. He scored eight goals in the final 56 games of last year. Let that sink in.

More to the point: Duchene was on pace for another 65+ point season through the first 21 games, with 17 points during that span. He ended with just 41 total, and only 24 points in the 56 games he played in the rest of the year.

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The point is, the talent is obviously there, but Duchene’s serious dip in production to end the season has put a huge damper on his trade value.

Enter the 2017-18 season. If Duchene is able to get back to form, and hold that form all the way to the trade deadline, then teams will come begging for him. The Avalanche will be able to get the player they really want for Duchy, and Duchy will be able to move on from this mess and go find winning ways.

Or maybe, just maybe, the Colorado Avalanche will actually complete for a playoff spot next season, and things will start looking brighter in Avalanche territory for both the team, and Duchene. A guy can dream, right?

Ultimately, Duchene probably needs a change of scenery. However, that’s not going to happen until he proves he’s worth Sakic’s asking price because Sakic is obviously not going to budge.

If he can return to form this coming season, then it ought to make both sides happy.

Conclusion

It’ll be a sad day if Matt Duchene is ever dealt. He’s been one of my favorite players to watch since he joined the team. Furthermore, he’s now an eight-year veteran in Colorado, and could be going into his ninth season as a member of the team. He’s climbed the rankings for franchise point totals in Colorado, and he’s always been a consummate teammate.

However, he’s also the most expendable and productive trade asset the Avalanche currently have. He’s a center on a team flush with them. He’s a career 50+ point producer season in, season out, with two seasons above the 65 point mark. Duchene is also a one time 30 goal scorer as recent as two seasons ago.

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The point is, the value is there, and the expendability is there. You know what else is there? A team need that must be filled at defense. So, he is likely to leave this team, one way or another. It’s just not likely to happen before the season starts.

Nonetheless, you can bet that when next season’s trade deadline is on the horizon — if Matt Duchene is still a member of the Avalanche — his name will be the big one that hits the block again.

And that right there, more than anything else, is why the Avalanche need to bring him back and get his mojo back. The guy needs to be taken from the distraction of rumors. The only way that happens is if Sakic’s asking price is met. And, the only way that happens is if Duchene proves he is worth that asking price.

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