Senators’ GM says Duchene can take the team ‘to the next level’

OTTAWA — After months of waiting, Matt Duchene feels he is finally closer to “playoff hockey.”

Duchene skated in his first practice with the Ottawa Senators on Monday, something he admitted was a bit surreal. Less than 24 hours earlier Duchene was still a member of the Colorado Avalanche, but thanks to a threeway deal the 26-year-old finally had his wish for a trade granted.

“I feel like I’m kind of in a dream world right now,” Duchene said.

The Senators acquired Duchene from Colorado on Sunday as part of a trade that included sending Kyle Turris to the Nashville Predators. For Senators general manager Pierre Dorion, the trade was a “no-brainer.”

Ottawa was a goal away from advancing to the Stanley Cup final last season, and Dorion said acquiring a forward of Duchene’s calibre 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 us to the next level. We’ve acquired a player that we’re really excited about acquiring. We felt this deal for us was a nobrainer 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 career games.

Sensing the Avalanche were headed for another rebuild last season, Duchene requested a trade from Sakic.

“I wanted to play playoff hockey,” Duchene said. “I’ve got eight playoff games to my name right now and for me that’s not where I want to be at this point of my career. I only get one shot at this.”