DUCHENE READY TO LIVE OUT HIS PLAYOFF DREAMS
26-year-old wants back in the post-season, and he says the Senators will get him there
Matt Duchene put his new No. 95 jersey on for the cameras on Monday morning at the Canadian Tire Centre and it was a perfect fit.
Acquired in a three-way deal Sunday night that sent centre Kyle Turris to the Nashville Predators and a package of players plus picks to the Colorado Avalanche, Duchene is thrilled about his new destination.
“This is a team that was one goal away from the Stanley Cup final last year and had they got there, you never know what would have happened,” Duchene said before hitting the ice. “That’s something I am dying for, is to have that opportunity.
“To be here with this team that I believe in a lot already, it’s very special. There’s going to be an adjustment period. I just want to bring my best to this team and hopefully be part of a long playoff run.”
The 26-year-old from Haliburton, Ont., went to Colorado general manager Joe Sakic nearly a year ago looking for a trade because he wanted the chance to win, and he feels he’s going to get that in Ottawa.
“Asking for a trade out of Colorado from Joe Sakic, who was my idol as a kid, was the hardest thing I ever had to do,” Duchene said. “It was something I sat on for a long time. I wanted to see how things panned out.
“Last year when it happened, it was around the time I saw the writing on the wall as far as the future of that franchise in terms of the rest of my contract. We had a horrific year last year and I could see a rebuild coming. It was something I had been a part of multiple times and I just couldn’t do it.
“I wanted to play playoff hockey. I’ve got eight playoff games to my name right now and that’s not where I want to be at this point of my career. I only get one shot at this. I get to play this game for however long my body lets me play it, and I felt I wanted to let Joe know it was time to move on.”
Duchene said the last year hasn’t been easy.
“The last 11 months I’ve been checking my phone a lot more. I can’t wait to not have to look at it as much,” he said. “It’s going to be nice.”
Senators general manager Pierre Dorion has been after Duchene for nearly two years. The Sens thought they were close enough to a deal Friday night that they had a plane waiting for Duchene in Philadelphia to bring him to Ottawa to play Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Dorion refused to give up in his pursuit of the deal even though it looked bleak Saturday morning. It took the Predators and Avalanche getting the details of their part of the trade worked out before it could become reality.
“He’s a great hockey player,” Dorion said. “Every day you ask me if I’m going to make a trade and every day I tell you we’re always looking to improve our hockey team. I know with us adding Matt Duchene, we’ve improved our team.
“We’re a pretty good hockey team. We’re on the right path and adding an elite player of his calibre to our group I think just makes us even better.”
People won’t be happy they gave up Turris, but the reality is he wasn’t going to sign in Ottawa and a six-year term was never discussed. Dorion said the Turris camp always demanded a sevenor eight-year deal.
“Six (years) was never put on the table,” Dorion said.
Duchene said he won’t try to fill Turris’ skates.
“Kyle Turris is a hell of a hockey player and I’m not trying to replace him or be better or anything like that. I’m just trying to come here and be the best version of myself,” Duchene said. “Last year was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through in terms of being on a hockey team when we went so far down the drain.
“I struggled. I was dealing with this stuff. It was a maturity process, a learning process and I think something that has made me stronger. I feel like if I can handle that, I can handle anything at this point.”
It’s not about to get easier. Duchene will face the Avalanche for a pair of games Friday and Saturday in Stockholm.
“It’s going to be very strange. First of all, playing a game in Sweden back-to-back is tough,” Duchene said. “Playing against my former teammates and friends is going to be even weirder. At the same time, the more I think about it, there’s going to be a level of comfort there because I played and practised against these guys every day.
“It’s going to be strange to be on the other side. I’m going to look a little bit weird in different colours, but it’s an opportunity to start this off on the right note.”