Sens GM: Getting Duchene a ‘no-brainer’

OTTAWA, ONTARIO » Senators general manager Pierre Dorion says the trade to bring Matt Duchene to Ottawa was a “nobrainer.”

Dorion and Duchene met with reporters on Monday, a day after the Senators acquired Duchene from Colorado as part of a three-way deal that included sending Kyle Turris to the Nashville Predators.

Ottawa was a goal away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final last season, and Dorion said acquiring a forward of Duchene’s caliber will allow the Senators to build on that success.

“(Sunday) was a great day for the Senators franchise,” said Dorion, who had expressed his interest in Duchene months ago to Colorado GM Joe Sakic.

“After a great playoff run last year we feel we’ve added an elite forward to our group . someone we feel that can help us take to the next level. We’ve acquired a player that we’re really excited about acquiring. We felt this deal for us was a no-brainer in what we had to give up.”

Duchene has four goals and 10 points this season through 13 games with the Avalanche. The third overall pick in 2009 has 178 goals and 250 assists in 586 games.

“I’m beyond excited, three hours from home, back in my home province with a team that I’ve been keeping my eye on for a long time,” said Duchene, a native of Haliburton, Ontario. “To see the way these guys play and the skill level and it’s a great market, great fans and I can’t wait to get started.”