Duchene shows up for camp, honors contract
Matt Duchene reported to Avalanche training camp Thursday morning, but the 26-year-old center hardly seems excited about playing for a team that has tried to trade him for most of 2017.
Duchene, who did not participate in last week’s captain’s skates or Tuesday’s annual Avalanche charity golf tournament, met with the media for a few seconds at the Pepsi Center. He seemed uncomfortable.
“Guys, to start, I’m not taking any questions right now. I’m here to honor my contract, I’m here for respect of the fans and I’m here for my teammates. I had a great summer training and I’m in good physical condition, so thanks so much. I’ll see you in the next couple days, OK?” he said.
Duchene, who is under contract at $6 million annually through 2018-19, has been on the trading block for most of 2017 and remains there. He was the fourth of five Avalanche players to be brought out to the locker room by the public relations staff. Captain Gabe Landeskog was the first, and said this about Duchene being the only player under contract to skip the captains skates and golf tournament: “I’ve had some conversations with him over the time, and he just wanted to train and skate up in Toronto. He was here when he had to be, so it’s all good.”
Defenseman Tyson Barrie was brought out after Duchene.
“It’s a tough situation, but he’s here and he’s here for us, and we need him,” Barrie said of Duchene. “As of right now, he’s part of the Avalanche and going forward he’s going to be. So it’s nice to have him back. He’s a heck of a player.”
In an ensuing news conference, second-year coach Jared Bednar was told of Duchene’s cameo appearance with the media, and a reporter noted that Duchene “obviously doesn’t want to be here.”
“He’s here,” Bednar said. “I think Matt is a prideful guy. I haven’t had a chance to speak with him this morning, but I wouldn’t go as far to say he obviously doesn’t want to be here. He’s here, he’s a prideful guy, he’s a hardworking guy, he’s a real good player and I expect he’ll come on the ice tomorrow, and today in their testing, and give it his all — just like he has throughout his career.”
Zadorov absent.
Defenseman Nikita Zadorov remains unsigned as a restricted free agent and did not participate in team activities Thursday. On Wednesday, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said contract negotiations are “close enough that he should be here.” Zadorov, 22, has threatened to play in the Kontinental Hockey League in his native Russia and represent his country in the Olympics in February.
Footnote.
The Avs are carrying 32 forwards, 18 defensemen and five goalies for training camp. On-ice sessions begin Friday morning at the Family Sports Center in Centennial.