Report: Former Avs teammates slam Duchene after blockbuster trade

The Matt Duchene saga is finally over. After a calendar year of criticism hurled at Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic for his reluctance to trade the 26-year-old star center, Sakic finally made a move but not until his list of demands were met. Now, with Duchene finally gone, his teammates in Colorado are left to pick up the pieces. And according to BSN Denver’s Adrian Dater, most Avs players are just happy things are finally over. 

“He didn’t want to be a Colorado Avalanche anymore,” said defenseman Erik Johnson. “The fact that he didn’t want to be a play for the team anymore, I think guys in the room were kind of waiting for it) to happen too. We all want to win play for this team and win in Denver, and he wanted to go somewhere else. That’s his right, but now we have the group in the room that we’re all going to be pulling on the same rope, in the same direction.”

Defenseman Tyson Barrie was drafted by the Avs in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the same year the team selected Duchene 3rd overall. The pair grew up together and share a tight bong, but even Barrie was relieved that the situation had resolved itself. “Obviously, it’s no secret that (a trade) was something he wanted,” Barrie said. “So, I think it’s probably good to put that behind us. We’re moving on. We wish him the best and it sounds like we got some good pieces coming back, so we’re excited to meet these new guys.”

Man, you have to feel for these guys. Knowing all along that their star player wanted out of town. Well, the good news is that they can finally move forward. And the early reaction is that the Avs made out very well in this trade. Who knows, a few years from now the Duchene trade could be looked at as a pivotal moment in the franchise’s history.