While there was plenty of action yesterday on the first day of free agency, one name that surfaced over and over again was that of the availability of Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene. The trade rumors refuse to die down, yet nothing has happened. According to The Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline, there are several teams trying to pry the 26-year-old former third-overall pick in the 2009 draft, including the Blue Jackets.
Quite obviously, Colorado general manager Joe Sakic is looking for a very young defender as key to any package to get Duchene. The scribe cites that the team has asked the Blue Jackets for 20-year-old blueliner Gabriel Carlsson as a primary piece of a potential deal. The former first-round pick in 2015 has shown quite a bit of promise, signing late this season and joining the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters for three games and then finished his 2016-17 season in Columbus for the final two games, picking up an assist on the way. Portzline says there has also been quite a bit of talk that the team is also interested in the Blue Jacket’s Ryan Murray, the former second-overall pick in 2012. The defenseman has played four seasons, finishing this year with two goals and nine assists in 60 games. No one knows whether Sakic is interested in one or both as part of the package for Duchene.
Portzline also tweets that the Boston Bruins are also discussing a trade with Colorado over Duchene and that deal would likely center around Bruins defender Brandon Carlo, who just wrapped up his rookie campaign with the Bruins. The 20-year-old former second round pick in 2015 finished the season with six goals, 10 assists and 59 penalty minutes.
Up till now, Sakic has refused to comment on any trade rumors only creating further speculation that a trade may be coming soon. We will see if there is any trade movement today as there is quite a bit of anticipation to see a move made.
I’d like to see him on the Habs. :(
Carlo, Spooner, Malcom Subban, and a 2nd rounder? Maybe make it a first next year and a 4th the year after and see if you can get them to retain some salary on Duchene or take on someone else’s salary?
Sakic’s asking price is way to high. He may get what he wants, but more likely he will get stuck with an unhappy player in Hockey Hell Colorado
Way way too much to pay… Carlo will be needed to replace Chara and he would be a LW with the Bs… go into the year and give the kids first crack. Just cuz Spooner could take it this year dprsnt mean Vatrano, Heinen, etc… wont this year with Cassidy.
Carlo is a RS D and I think will be passed by McAvoy anyhow. With all the prospects in the system he’s expendable, and Duchene immediately makes Boston serious contenders if they can replace a top 4 D slot.
None of those prospects excite me enough to offer up Duchene. Sakic better not screw this up, he’s already done enough damage; not getting getting the proper return will set this organization back even more years.
Islanders can use him great second line center
People are talking like he is a top 15 player, is he even a top 15 center anymore? I dont think so
He’s not even a top 50 player.
Dopey bandwagon Pens fans want to offer Maatta, Sheary and a first for him. He’s not worth one of those pieces, let alone all 3.
He is certainly worth a first rounder in the high 20’s or 30. You’ve got to be kidding me.
Maatta, 1st rounder, poulliot/Jarry. Might not happen but I think it’s fair.
sakic takes a beating in the press but he’s doing the best thing for the team, everyone expects him to give up duchene for hardly anything but there’s a lot of teams out there that want the skills duchene will bring? I f sakic gets a good deal for the avs the so called experts will say now he’s a great GM! LOL!!!!!
Do the B’s really need another center?
Trade Zdeno Chara! He is done anyway
Trade krejici, maybe a young prospect and 1 or 2 picks