While Colorado Avalanche’s Matt Duchene remains with the team despite the constant trade rumors that have hounded the 26-year-old center all offseason and entering the preseason. In fact, despite earlier reports that general manager Joe Sakic still has high trade demands for Duchene, there are others who look at the situation differently. Long-time Avalanche great Peter Forsberg was a guest in-studio analyst for a Swedish of the Avalanche-New Jersey Devils game said the team needs to “bench and trade” the disgruntled center, according to Mike Chambers of the Denver Post.
Duchene, who has reportedly been visibly unhappy to still be with the Avalanche and has said very little to the press, was a target for Forsberg during that broadcast, who believes that while putting up points might be important to raise his value, the center is not going go all-out to help his team.
“Doubtful that he should be allowed to play (with Colorado),” Forsberg, whose words were translated by Expression reporter Robin LIndgren, said in the Swedish broadcast. “Put him in the stands. If I were playing with a player that I know doesn’t even want to be in the team, it’s not like he is going to throw himself on the ice and block shots with his head. It is mostly difficult to have a player like that in the team, although he is skillful and is doing his best. I would rather play with someone that wants to be there. I would put him on the bench and trade him.”
- CBS Sports reports that Ottawa Senators have recalled top defensive prospect Thomas Chabot Sunday to help fill in for their many defensive injuries. The team is currently without Erik Karlsson, who is still out after foot surgery this offseason, as well as Johnny Oduya, who is out with a lower-body injury. The team attempted to fulfil their defensive needs a couple days ago when they promoted Ben Harpur, who has two years of AHL experience, unlike Chabot who has just two games of AHL experience, but Harpur suffered an upper-body injury in last night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. The 20-year-old Chabot had a goal and an assist in his first two games with the Belleville Senators. The 2015 first-rounder was one of the team’s final cuts, which surprised many, but he was held responsible for a poor preseason performance, a 9-2 drubbing to the Montreal Canadiens, in which he finished the game with a plus/minus rating of -5.
- Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register tweeted that Anaheim Ducks’ injured defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen were both full participants in practice today, suggesting the team may eventually be getting back their top defenders. They are not that close to returning, however, as they are both on LTIR, which requires them to miss 24 days and 10 games. Both required shoulder surgery at the end of last season.
Sakic is unrealistic and trying to make up for all of his bad moves with this trade. Unfortunately for him, everyone knows that and no one will give him what he wants. Either he lowers his expectations or Duchene isn’t traded at all.
Perhaps he stays and helps the team win?
Huge gamble by Sakic, but if he’s not bringing back much of a return as is, there’s not necessarily much to lose by hoping he has a big year and teams have to meet his asking price. However, if Duchene has another clunker of a year to put the nail in the coffin of his trade value and the Avs have another terrible season, Sakic’s job should be forfeit.
So you’re blaming a player for not being happy because the team is pretty much saying we don’t want you anymore but we can’t get what we want so to bad for you Forsburg stop sticking up for the horrible job Sakic is doing to this kid and the franchise
Even though Joe Sakic was an outstanding hockey player, he is just awful as a GM. Patrick Roy saw this & left the team as quickly as he could. Colorado would be a whole lot better if he was out as GM. This is a very similar situation as the Red Wings are in with Ken Holland. He doesn’t have a clue & Jeff Blashill is more clueless about coaching an NHL team.
I agree with you on this one, mcase.