Evans: The Avalanche and Duchene are stuck with each other
Sep 14, 2017, 5:25 PM
It doesn’t get much more awkward than Matt Duchene’s comments upon joining the Colorado Avalanche for the start of training camp.
Channeling his inner Marshawn Lynch, Duchene said, “I’m here to honor my contract, I’m here for respect of the fans, and I’m here for my teammates.”
Yikes. Talk about cutting the tension with a knife.
It’s clear these two sides need a divorce. Duchene knows the Avs don’t want him in Denver anymore. And I can’t blame the Avs for wanting to be rid of Duchene, who’s been a major disappointment.
I have called for the Avs to break up its overrated “core” for a few years now. I’ve mentioned Duchene’s name the most because I believe he’s become the poster child for Colorado’s under-achieving, so-called young stars.
Duchene isn’t young anymore. He’s 26 years old, and he’s been in the NHL for eight years. During that time, he has come to embody the “all skill, no grit” style of the Avalanche.
Only twice has Duchene scored more than 25 goals in a season. He has reached 30 just once.
His game lacks an edge; it lacks sandpaper.
Duchene’s like so many of the Avs forwards who shrink from the battles along the wall and in the corners. They are reluctant to crash the net and go into those dirty areas to score goals knowing a physical price will be paid just for trying.
There is still hope for players like Gabe Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon. For Duchene, this deep in his career, I fear this is what he is and will always be.
When you compare Duchene to other stars close to his age and years in the league — the likes of John Tavares, Steven Stamkos, Ryan Johansen, and Patrick Kane — you realize what a disappointment he has been. Duchene was drafted to be one of those type players, one who you could build a team and a culture around.
Instead, he has come up short.
The irony in all of this is Duchene was a big Avs fan growing up, and he was a big Joe Sakic fan. Now, it’s Sakic who’s trying to get the best trade offer for him.
Unfortunately, for both sides, there’s blood in the water, and other NHL teams see how untenable the situation is between Colorado and Duchene. Sakic can’t get what he perceives as fair value for the forward because teams know the Avs want to unload him.
It’s possible Sakic could call Duchene’s bluff, keep him, make him play for the Avalanche, and honor the two years remaining on his contract.
But that could be disastrous.
Even under ideal circumstances, Duchene’s game can drift and become invisible. Imagine what a disgruntled version of his game looks like?
As for the Avs, after last year’s historically bad season, they need a fresh start. Having an unhappy Duchene around would only court more trouble.
The best thing Sakic can do is suck it up, trade Duchene for about 60 cents on the dollar, get what you can, close the book on this unfortunate chapter in Avs history, and just move on.
For both sides’ sake.
