Major turnaround in Duchene trade situation?!

Everyone is keeping an eye on Matt Duchene and the Ottawa Senators and it didn’t take long to notice that something did not make sense after head coach Guy Boucher spoke with media members after the morning skate on Thursday…

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Tuesday’s Insider Trading that Duchene has played his last game as a member of the Senators, seeing that he will be pulled out of the lineup for Thursday’s game against the New Jersey Devils to prevent any injury. If Duchene were to get hurt, the Senators would have to forget about moving him for a big price.

However Boucher revealed to reporters that he hasn’t been informed about pulling Duchene out of the lineup, and won’t until he is told otherwise. During practice on Thursday, Duchene also told media that he was getting ready to play…

Boucher says his boss has not told him to keep Duchene out of the lineup.
— TSN 1200 (@TSN1200) February 21, 2019

Status quo with Senators...Boucher says until he hears otherwise, Duchene is playing tonight
— Ken Warren (@Citizenkwarren) February 21, 2019

So what is all that Ottawa? As TSN’s Shawn Simpson explains let’s hope it’s because things have improved in contract negotiations or else the Senators are just messing with reporters…

If not talking about the Sens lineup means negotiations are on going, that's cool. But if it delays what most in the know are reporting. It just makes the club look bad. Being honest in this instance would be applauded.
— Shawn Simpson (@TSNSimmer) February 21, 2019

They really want us to watch their game tonight!

The Senators did however recalled forwards Darren Archibald and Filip Chlapik from Belleville earlier on Thursday.

The Sens have recalled forwards Darren Archibald and Filip Chlapik from Belleville.
— Dean Brown (@PxPOttawa) February 21, 2019

Duchene has become one of the most coveted rentals on the trade market in the recent months. Talks have heated up since he has revealed that he isn’t ready to sign an eight-year deal worth in excess of $65 million with the Senators. It’s believed initially five teams showed interest in Duchene and that number has grown since.

Nobody knows exactly what the asking price is for Duchene, but you’d have to think the club would want a first-round pick, a high-end prospect plus another piece in return.

Brought here from the Colorado Avalanche in a massive three-way deal in Nov., 2017 that sent Kyle Turris to Nashville, Duchene is in his second season with the Senators and has 58 points in 50 games this year.

Duchene, whose deal expires after this season, has posted 27 goals and 31 assists in 50 games with the Senators this season.

Almost everyone around the NHL believes Duchene will be playing elsewhere after Monday...