Senators acquire Duchene from Avs
Three-team, multi-player deal sends goalie Hammond to Colorado, centre Turris to Predators
The chase is over, the Ottawa Senators have acquired centre Matt Duchene.
After trying to trade for the 26-yearold Colorado Avalanche forward for nearly two years, general manager Pierre Dorion completed a threeteam blockbuster Sunday night when he sent centre Kyle Turris to the Nashville Predators in a trade that looked like it was dead Friday night.
But the Senators were determined to get Duchene and Dorion wanted to get this trade over the finish line.
This was by no means a small deal. Turris agreed to a six-year, $36 million contract extension with the Predators while the Senators dealt goalie Andrew Hammond along with top prospect Shane Bowers to the Avs. The club also sent a first round-pick in 2018 and third-round pick in 2019 to the Avs.
Colorado also got Nashville’s second round pick along with defenceman Samuel Girard and winger Vladislav Kamenev.
Still, the centre piece of the deal is Duchene because he’s the top player involved and Dorion will hold a news conference Monday in Ottawa to welcome the club’s new top centre into the fold.
The Senators paid a high price but they wanted Duchene badly and that’s why Dorion refused to give up in his pursuit of a trade. The deal between Colorado and Ottawa was completed Sunday afternoon then the Nashville element had to be completed before the trade was official.
Duchene was pulled off the ice in the first period of Colorado’s game against the New York Islanders Sunday in Brooklyn. Oddly enough, he’ll make his Ottawa debut with the Senators Friday against his former Colorado teammates in Stockholm, Sweden.
Duchene flew to Ottawa Sunday night and will be on the ice at the Canadian Tire Centre Monday morning in the club’s final practice before boarding a charter at 10 p.m. to head overseas.
“Playing my first two games against my old team is going to be strange but it’s something I half-expected,” Duchene told reporters in video posted by BSN Denver while leaving the rink in Brooklyn. “I have nothing but good things to say about (the Avalanche).”
Though Duchene reported to camp in September, he only did it to honour his contract and hopefully try to drive his value to get dealt. It hasn’t been easy for Duchene because he has wanted to be moved and really he’s been the subject of trade rumours since the Avalanche started their rebuild under GM Joe Sakic.
“It’s part of the business and none of this is personal at the end of the day,” said Duchene. “I’m very thankful for my new destination and I’m very thankful (for the chance) to be (with the Avs).”
The Senators feel if they can surround Duchene with the proper talent then he’s going to have success here. Let’s face it, the Avs haven’t been very good for a long time and Duchene is going to get a chance to play with skilled players, including the ability for captain Erik Karlsson to get him the puck. Duchene has four goals and six assists for 10 points in 13 games this season and the Senators feel this change of scenery is only going to help him.