|
Matt Duchene speaks, says he's taking it 'one day at a time' |
|
|
Rick Sadowski
 Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • RSS
• Archive
• CONTACT
|
|
|
He didn't have a whole lot to say, but Matt Duchene did break his silence Monday, saying he's taking things "one day at a time."
I couldn't get to Avalanche practice, so naturally the Avalanche center decided to say a few things four days after his brief statement at the Pepsi Center when he said he reported to training camp to honor his contract and out of respect for his teammates and the fans.
Duchene sure doesn't sound like he wants to remain with the Avalanche.
"I’m not going to predict the future on my longevity here,” Duchene told the Denver Post. “I’m day by day. I’m just enjoying playing hockey. A lot got blown out of proportion. I said what I wanted to say then. Nothing’s changed since Thursday. I’m here to get better, I’m here for those reasons -- that I said on Thursday.”
General manager Joe Sakic has never publicly said that Duchene has been or is on the trading block, only that he has wanted to upgrade the defense with a top-four defenseman.
But Duchene's name has been prominently mentioned in trade rumors since before last season's NHL trading deadline, and Duchene sounded at the end of last season as though he expected to be dealt.
"I love playing hockey, I want to win,” Duchene said Monday. “That’s the biggest thing on my mind. I’m trying to get better every time I touch the ice right now.”
Does he think the Avalanche are capable of winning?
"Like I said, I’m taking it one day at a time and seeing what’s going on,” he said.
And if he isn't traded?
"I’m not looking that far (ahead),” he said. “I’m taking one day at a time.”
As for his teammates: "The guys came in in awesome shape. Everybody looks as good as they could possibly look, in my opinion,” he said.
*****
Duchene isn't expected to play Tuesday night in the Avalanche's preseason opener against Vegas at the Pepsi Center.
The Avalanche will use mostly prospects and veterans hoping to earn a contract against the first-year Golden Knights, who won 9-4 against Vancouver on Sunday.
*****
Defenseman Nikita Zadorov is still waiting for his immigration paperwork to be completed, so he hasn't reported yet. He signed a two-year, $4.3 million contract on Friday.
*****
The Avalanche made their first roster cuts Monday, assigning the following players:
Goalie Sam Brittain and left wing Ben Storm to the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL; defenseman Josh Anderson to Prince George (WHL); and defenseman Tom Gregoire and center Hugo Roy to Sherbrooke (QMJHL).
Join the Discussion:
»