Matt Duchene's name has been raging in NHL trade rumors for nearly a year.
Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog are the two notable quotables who are on the trade block.
Avs management is looking for blue chip, premium assets in exchange for Duchene and/or Landeskog. The team that lands Duchene will have to part with a top four defenseman or a top organizational defenseman prospect, plus, other assets.
On Monday night, the internet tilted on it's axis when the Colorado Avalanche star forward was scratched due to illness against the San Jose Sharks.
*Cough cough*
UPDATE: Matt Duchene (sick) will not play tonight.
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 24, 2017
In 40 games this season, Duchene has 15 goals and 13 assists. The Haliburton, Ontario native is averaging 18:39 TOI this season.
The 26-year-old forward is heading hasn't even hot his peak potential yet and has two more seasons remaining on his current contract. If Duchene is a reasonable, value contract at $6M AAV.
The team that trades for Duchene will be getting a 20-goal, 60+ point producer.
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Johnny Gaudreau has been a target for opponents to pick on this season.
Seemingly, every Calgary Flames opponent wants a piece of Johnny Hockey.
On Monday night in Toronto, Gaudreau was dropped courtesy a Leo Komarov check to the face/chin.
Gaudreau was shaken after the collision and sought refuge in the Flames room.
Earlier this season, Gaudreau missed ten games with a broken finger that he suffered at the hands of the the Minnesota Wild.
Komarov was not assessed a penalty for his direct hit to Gaudreau's head. He better charge his i-Phone now because the NHL Department of Player Safety will be calling him for a hearing early Tuesday morning, if not sooner.