Well, the NHL suspended Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog on Friday for two games for his blindside hit against Boston's Brad Marchand in the second period of Thursday's game.
I expected a suspension because Landeskog was given a match penalty, which includes an automatic hearing with the NHL Department of Safety.
Figures, now that the Avalanche have won two games in a row for the first time this season. Landeskog, who's been on a line with Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene, will miss Saturday's game in Montreal and Tuesday's game in Toronto. He'll be able to return next Thursday in Pittsburgh, the fifth game of the seven-game trip.
Here's the NHL's video and explanation:
Colorado's Gabriel Landeskog has been suspended 2 games for an illegal check to the head of Boston's Brad Marchand. https://t.co/e0PHYMclPM
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) November 13, 2015Landeskog will lose $59,907.84 in salary. He approached Marchand following the hit to apologize after the Bruins forward got back on his skates and got punched in the face. The NHL fined Marchand, who received a roughing minor, $5,000.
“I tried to apologize and tell him I didn’t mean to come across,… Landeskog told the Denver Post after the game. “Obviously he wasn’t hurt — with that sucker punch. I’m happy he didn’t get hurt. I feel like the principal point of contact was the shoulder. Like I said, I’m happy he didn’t get hurt.…
Said Marchand: "Things happen quick, I know that. I’ve been there. I’m sure he didn’t mean it. I don’t think he’s a dirty player. It’s hockey. It is what it is."
*****
There have been plenty of Duchene rumors out there ever since Adrian Dater spoke to Joe Sakic for a Bleacher Report column in which the executive vice president and general manager said he was talking to teams about trade possibilities.
No surprise there. GMs talk all the time and the Avalanche are off to another bad start, fuel for rumors and speculation.
"If there's a deal that makes sense for your organization, you're going to do it," Sakic told Dater. "You don't want to move some guys, but you're always listening. Having had different conversations with different GMs, you know what? You're never not going to listen. But every team is the same. You have to hear things out, and see if they make sense."
When Dater asked if there are any "untouchables," Sakic named MacKinnon.
"You know what, it doesn't matter what I say or what anyone says," Sakic said. "Nate's not going anywhere, and there are guys that don't want to move. But you're always talking with teams, and you're wanting to listen on anybody, really."
Dater speculated that the Avalanche's two highest-paid players, Duchene and goalie Semyon Varlamov -- both of whom were off to bad starts -- could be available at the right price. Speculation, folks.
But TSN has since reported that Duchene's name has been mentioned in conversations with other teams -- some are obviously calling the Avalanche -- and that Sakic spoke with Ottawa GM Bryan Murray to gauge his interest.
Here's the TSN link. Sorry for the commercial.
The Post's Mike Chambers tweeted the following:
#Avs taking today off in Montreal. Optional AM skate at Bell Centre. Matt Duchene will be there. He is NOT on trade block & never was
— Mike Chambers (@MikeChambers) November 13, 2015ESPN.com's Joe McDonald asked Duchene about the rumors after Thursday's game in Boston.
"I have no idea what you’re talking about,… Duchene told him. "Well, I hope not. I guess that’s up to them. I want to be an Av, I’ve said that my whole career. I don’t know what the rumors are, and I’m not going to go looking for them, either. Whatever."
Does any of this mean Duchene will be traded? Of course not. Helping the Avalanche win games should quiet this kind of talk, and Duchene has six goals in the past five games after scoring one in the first 11.
Duchene had two goals and an assist Tuesday when the Avalanche opened this trip with a 4-0 win in Philadelphia and he scored the tie-breaking goal Thursday in the 3-2 come-from-behind win in Boston, along with another assist.
Duchene and Jarome Iginla now are tied for the Avalanche lead with seven goals. MacKinnon has a team-high 16 points (six goals, 10 assists).