Trade rumors around Duchene heating up, could be on a new team before next season.

Despite the insane speculation surrounding Colorado Avalanche Matt Duchene since early this year, the young forward remains a member of the colorado Avalanche and we are now in July. 

While the trade talk had died down in recent weeks, an interview conducted today with Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman has re-ignited those rumors in a major way, with Friedman expecting the contenders for Duchene to make another attempt at getting the deal done. 

“But I do think everyone took a timeout after July 1," said Friedman as per Fanrag's Chris Nichols, before adding "I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of the contenders try again sometime in the summer.”

Friedman also explained why the transaction has taken so long to materialize, and it appears that the primary concern is the limited control that teams will have if they do in fact trade for Duchene.

"Duchene is only under contract for this year and next, and then he’s an unrestricted free agent. I know that concerned Carolina. The price is high, so you’re looking there and you’re saying, ‘We’re going to give up a young, controllable player or two in return, and there’s no guarantee we’re going to be able to keep Duchene long term.’ I think some teams are skittish about that."

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There's also the matter of the asking price from general manager Joe Sakic, a price that may be too high when considering the aforementioned lack of control teams will have if they trade for Duchene. 

Despite that however Friedman believes that both the Avalanche and Duchene himself are still both very much interested in moving on from one another and that means getting a trade done.

“I do think they want to trade Duchene. I think Duchene needs a fresh start and would like a fresh start. But the fact is they’re sitting there and they’ve set a very high bar for a guy who has been a 30-goal scorer."

Duchene could still very well begin the 2017-2018 season in an entirely new uniform.