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More Duchene talk; no FA frenzy

June 30, 2017, 7:12 PM ET [44 Comments]
Rick Sadowski
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Not that it really ever subsided, but the Matt Duchene trade talk -- rumors, speculation, whatever -- has heated up again now that the NHL draft is over and the free agent market officially opens for business Saturday.

The Avalanche, who haven't done anything to improve a team that had 48 points last season -- they lost Calvin Pickard to Vegas, so they're actually worse -- have said through a spokesman they aren't planning to do anything "big" in free agency.

They have plenty of needs, obviously, including a backup goalie to replace Pickard, assuming Spencer Martin isn't going to sit behind Semyon Varlamov, who by the way had better be healthy following his hip surgeries.

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FYI: Here's my NHL.com story on defenseman CONOR TIMMINS, the Avalanche's second-round draft pick.

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General manager Joe Sakic, who we've been told will talk at some point Saturday, has said he hasn't been happy with the offers he's received for Duchene, 26, who is coming off a miserable 18-goal, 41-point season and didn't have a very good World Championship tournament with Team Canada.

The Avalanche need to get a young, top-four defenseman as part of a package for Duchene, who two years ago scored a career-high 30 goals and has been with the team he grew up idolizing since it made him a first-round pick (No. 3) in the 2009 NHL draft.




This from Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: "Duchene, a natural center with great speed and faceoff ability, would certainly interest the Blue Jackets. But the asking price is steep — defenseman Ryan Murray and bedrock forward Boone Jenner at minimum, plus maybe a first-round pick, too."

Avalanche assistant GM Chris MacFarland had the same position with the Blues Jackets before coming to Denver two years ago, so that might be of some help in getting something done.

As for Nashville, Predators GM David Poile wants to add a top-six forward to the Western Conference champs, but he isn't interested in giving up any of his best defensemen, so how could that work for Colorado?

Perhaps Carolina is still a possibility. The Hurricanes have a stable of young defensemen, though GM Ron Francis chose not to make a deal with the Avalanche at the draft. He recently said he's looking to add some offensive help through trades and/or free agency.

Maybe there's a surprise team in the mix. Maybe Duchene remains in Colorado, though that would likely seem more than a little awkward, taking account how uncomfortable the situation was leading up to last season's trade deadline.

On the other hand, Duchene loves this franchise and is very popular with Avalanche fans, most of whom wouldn't mind seeing him back. They'll be more upset if Sakic gives him away, and Sakic has said he won't do that.

Does anybody really know? I just wish this saga would end one way or another.



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