Trade rumors: a team “is very much in there on Duchene” says NHL Insider

Matt Duchene missed the first captain’s practice with the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, and trade chatter about the forward came back with a vengeance!

NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman took on Toronto's Sportsnet 590 radio on Wednesday morning to inform fans about what might be next for the 26-year-old. 

“I get the sense there have been some renewed efforts to try to trade him," Friedman explained. "I think Columbus is very much in there. I think they were a team that very aggressively tried to close the deal right around the beginning of July last year and didn’t do so.

“I know there are some teams who have felt that Colorado is being especially stubborn on what they wanted."

In the midst of this impasse, Duchene's only real leverage is to not show up for training camp. General manager Joe Sakic might feel forced to make a move or it could also push the sides even further apart...

“I think you’re seeing probably some renewed efforts right now for Colorado to make the deal. But I still think they look at it like, ‘We need to get what we want before we make this trade.’ But I wouldn’t be surprised if the Avalanche have stepped up their efforts.

Though Columbus has been trying hard to land Duchene, they may not be the only team, according to Friedman. 

“I haven’t asked Carolina about it, but there have been rumors that they potentially talked maybe Justin Faulk with Colorado. They were concerned about Duchene only having two more years, but I don’t think Colroado was that interested in Faulk. They wanted a younger player, like a Slavin – who they’re not going to deal, Carolina won’t do that – or a Hanifin, who I don’t think Carolina want to do. But that’s what I think Colorado was looking for."

Duchene only has two seasons left on his five-year, $30 million contract and is still patiently waiting for an outcome in this ongoing saga. 

We’ll see if Duchene shows up at training camp in a few weeks... Stay tuned!