In 2015-16, he finally scored 30 goals in a season, the first player to do so for the Avalanche since Joe Sakic. NHL free-agency danger ratings: Which players are the most risky? Former Avalanche star center Matt Duchene is on the move again, less than a year and a half after being traded to Ottawa.. Duchene has been traded to … {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. Center Matt Duchene was traded by the Colorado Avalanche to the Ottawa Senators on Sunday as part of a three-team trade that also sent center … Killian October 26th, 2018. Johnson: We made sure, at the beginning of the year, that there needed to be a really strong role acceptance this season. Defenseman Erik Johnson has been on an eight-year roller-coaster ride. You can change your selection at any time. Windsor Spitfires’ Duo Selected at 2020 NHL Draft, Flyers Add 4 New Prospects on Day 2 of 2020 NHL Draft, Kings Stock Up on Defense, Wingers on Day 2 at NHL Draft, Devils Find Incredible Value With Their Picks On Day 2. General manager Joe Sakic suddenly looked like a genius for picking up four players and three draft picks for one disgruntled skater and something unusual happened with the team. Whether they like Duchene or not, Avs fans can root for Ottawa to lose as many games as possible in hopes that Colorado ends up with a top draft pick in what’s expected to be a very deep and talented draft. Listen », Greg Wyshynski and Emily Kaplan discuss the death of Jim Johannson and some surprise teams that could make a Stanley Cup run. Matt Duchene spoke about being trade from the Avalanche to the Ottawa Senators and everything he experienced in Colorado. Many felt that was a shot at Duchene. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix. We may never know the full story of why Duchene requested a trade. He was an addition to the team in the offseason, so you haven't obviously played much with him, but what is he doing that has worked? He recorded 67 points in the 2010-11 season when he became the youngest player in franchise history to lead the team in scoring. But he had a great attitude, and he came back and has been one of the most important parts of one of our top lines so far. This group looked nothing like they did the previous season and proceeded to rack up 95 points, reached the playoffs and pushed the Nashville Predators to the limits in their first-round matchup. The Avalanche faithful could relate. When news leaked that Duchene had requested a trade, the tide started to turn and his statements after the trade stirred the pot. Johnson: He's a guy who's not lacking confidence in any facet of life, so he probably thinks he speaks better English than I do. Matt Duchene returns to the Pepsi Center on Friday night to face his former teammates on the Colorado Avalanche. Made my life easier to have a big guy like that, helping to shut down other teams' top lines. The postseason success of his peers probably added to the pressure. Plus, some expansion talk now that Emily has returned from Seattle, as well as interviews with Lightning head coach Jon Cooper and Islanders rookie Mathew Barzal. We knew that Joe was going to do what was in the best interest on the organization, and I think he did that. The Senators acquired centre Matt Duchene from the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday in a three-team deal that involved Ottawa also dealing forward Kyle Turris to the Nashville Predators. Kamenev, 21, has eight points in 10 games with the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals this season. When all was said and done, though, it felt like a relief. Rumors had been swirling for months, but it didn’t seem real when the Avalanche finally pulled the trigger on the exchange. He played well during some dark years for the franchise but he has become a polarizing character in Avalanche history. Younger, faster. Erik Johnson on Avalanche's stunning season, Duchene shade, 2020 NHL draft grades: Best picks, value steals, more for all 31 teams, 2020 NHL draft: Pick tracker and analysis for every team, Previews, predictions for all 31 NHL teams in free agency. A thank you may be in order, followed by an Avalanche of goals. He won a gold medal with Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics. He's made three or four highlight-reel saves this year that has kept us in games. Johnson wasn’t trying to throw Duchene under the bus. Whether appreciative of his service or for the positive impact trading him has made on the team and Colorado’s future, there’s a lot to be grateful for Matt Duchene. We said, "If you have an issue, don't be a bad teammate. Matthew Duchene is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League. Turris, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, immediately signed a six-year, US$36 million contract extension upon being traded to Nashville. From the time we won the division, four years ago, I think there are only four guys left from that team. We knew, from an outsider's perspective, that no one was going to give us a chance to do much of anything. Duchene was the third overall pick in the NHL 2009 Entry Draft and made his debut with the Avalanche on Oct. 1 of the same year, notching his first point, an assist on John-Michael Liles’ power-play tally. We didn't recognize that password reset code. It changed the Avalanche. The Avalanche knew they had a good asset in Matt Duchene and didn’t want to waste it. In Duchene’s first year with the organization, he became a finalist for the Calder Trophy and led all rookies with 55 points. Not-So-Good Matt Duchene. But on the nights when other teams have shut them down, we've gotten secondary scoring, which has been the real key.ESPN On IceGreg Wyshynski and Emily Kaplan discuss the death of Jim Johannson and some surprise teams that could make a Stanley Cup run. The five foot 11, 195 pounder has an impressive international resume that includes Olympic gold in 2014 with Canada along with winning the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, two world championships in 2015 and ’16 and an under-18 worlds in 2008. Johnson: You can't be quick to judge trades like that. MacKinnon quickly discovered another gear and the Avalanche found a sneaky good defenseman in young Sam Girard, one of the key pieces in the trade. The previous season, the Senators earned 98 points, nearly making the Stanley Cup Final. Interestingly, part of the Duchene trade included the Senators’ first-round pick. The 48-point 2016-17 season didn’t help, though rumours insisted that he asked for the trade before things went south. Sorry we could not verify that email address. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Matt Duchene spoke about being trade from the Avalanche to the Ottawa Senators and everything he experienced in Colorado. It was a tough offseason for their fans, with some even renting billboards calling for the owner’s removal. And his face-offs were a thing of beauty. It was an amazing turnaround. "It’s been a while, but we wanted to make sure we had the right deal," Colorado general manager Joe Sakic said. Duchene, who has four goals and six assists in 13 games this season, will play his first game with the Senators on Friday against the Avalanche in Stockholm. Not only was the 2016-17 season the third year in a … There was the goal celebration dance with former Avalanche forward Paul Stastny. For anyone in pro sports. The Colorado Avalanche star was traded to the Ottawa Senators on Sunday in a multi-team deal, the team confirmed Sunday night. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Last November, during a final game before the Avalanche were to head for Sweden to play the Ottawa Senators, Duchene sneakily followed an injured Blake Comeau off the ice. We have a lot of work left to do. There isn’t enough recent news in your lineup. He sometimes got lost in his own head and he was a streaky player – with both scoring and scoreless streaks. He also doesn't give up on plays. After months in limbo, Matt Duchene is finally on the move. He knew what was going on. Despite losing the two games in Stockholm, the Avalanche credited that trip with helping them connect and it wasn’t long before that chemistry found its way onto the ice. ESPN: What were your honest expectations coming into this season? It’s one of those things — it’s a business and I’ll have good story for people one day.". Colorado quickly embraced the talented forward and his flashy skillset. Bowers, 18, was Ottawa’s 28th overall selection at the 2017 NHL draft and is a freshman at Boston University this season. Johnson: Joe had his finger on the pulse. GM Joe Sakic has talked about how he kept the veteran leadership group in the loop on Matt's situation. Erik Johnson said in an interview that he and others in the locker room wanted to rebuild from their disastrous season with people who wanted to be “here”. If you didn't, then you move on. Ad Choices Every day we reset our attitude. We may never know the full story of why Duchene requested a trade. Terms of Service. Lessons learned from the Matt Duchene trade were on display in Colorado’s selection of Justin Barron By AJ Haefele October 7, 2020 8 Mins Read. The injection of those guys on the roster have made a world of difference. It wasn't a direct insult. He played well but the Senators were coming apart at the seams. The 28-year-old has three goals and six assists through 11 games this year for the Senators and added 10 points in 19 playoff games last season as Ottawa reached the Eastern Conference final. Johnson: No. Johnson: Yeah. Over eight seasons, he inspired fans and rallied his teammates. By J.D. ESPN: I'm trying to figure out who you just ticked off more with that "best line" claim: Boston fans or Dallas fans?