Report: Matt Duchene's time with the Avalanche is apparently over!

Matt Duchene is probably the name we have heard the most over the past few months, probably because he has been on the trading block for just as long. Even though his production has declined over the past seasons, it is no secret that general manager Joe Sakic has turned down many deals involving him because he would not get enough in return.

Many experts believe this is the reason why he is still in Colorado. However, The Hockey News' Ian Denomme believes the 26-year-old forward is not in Sakic's long-term plan, and that will definitely get traded. Denomme's projected lineup for the 2020 season is pretty self-explanatory:

"Though he hasn’t been dealt yet, the Duchene trade rumors persist. It seems inevitable he will be traded soon. But let’s imagine for a moment he isn’t traded – he will still be a UFA after the 2018-19 season. He would be a highly sought after free agent still in his prime, so sorry Avs fans, either way he’s gone and not included on this roster for 2019-20."

He also added that what the Avalanche would get in return is extremely important for the sake of the organization:

"As it’s currently constructed, this continues to be a very bad team, and the future is a little bleak. But if they get a good haul for Duchene and luck into a No. 1 overall pick or two, they could start to turn things around."

Duchene played 77 games last season with the Avs, recording 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points. This was his worst production since 2011-12, when he registered 28 points in 58 games.