Report: Five teams negotiating with Avs for Duchene

Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene, whether he likes it or not, is THE story of the 2017 NHL offseason. The talented sniper has been in the middle of trade rumors and speculation since the end of the 2016-17 and has reportedly been on the move several times, if not for Avalanche GM Joe Sakic reluctancy to pull the trigger on a transaction. 

Following a quiet NHL Entry Draft and free-agent period for the Avs, the sentiment around the league was that Sakic wasn’t content with the offers he was receiving for Duchene and had subsequently taken him off the market. Not so fast though. According to one NHL insider, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Duchene is still very much in play. 

In his latest 30 Thoughts article for Sportsnet, Friedman writes:

I wouldn’t be surprised if interested parties (Boston, Columbus, Nashville, Pittsburgh, maybe Calgary) try again to see if anything shakes loose.

Try again? What were the offers the first time around and what exactly is Sakic looking for in return? Again, Friedman writes:

They are looking for young players with term, and I think the guys they’ve targeted include Mathew Barzal and Ilya Sorokin from the Islanders; Brandon Carlo or Charlie McEvoy from the Bruins; Mattias Ekholm from the Predators.

No doubt that’s a hefty price to pay for each team, but players with Duchene’s skill and pedigree don’t come around often. One thing’s for sure, whomever acquires Duchene’s services this summer will pay a steep price. GM Joe Sakic is making sure of that.