The notion of Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic pulling the trigger on a trade that would send forward Matt Duchene packing, only a few months after the team traded another elite natural center in Ryan O'Reilly, seems almost too ridiculous to suggest. And yet, here we are.
With Patrick Roy's group struggling again and inching dangerously close to that late Nov. mark at which point the playoff-worthy teams tend to separate themselves from the postseason-less, Sakic is reportedly giving serious consideration to shipping Duchene off to colder pastures. And further, Sakic seems to be the one making calls on possible Duchene deals, not receiving them.
"In talking to people around the league, his name is out there," TSN's Pierre LeBrun said Thursday while appearing on an episode of TSN's Insider Trading, via Today's Slap Shot. "There's a lot of pressure on Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy with the Colorado Avalanche. They're in last place for a second year in a row and they're not going to stand by and do nothing this time. They're not selling out games. It's not working, what they have right now roster-wise, and outside of Nathan MacKinnon - who is untouchable - I think there are a lot of players available if the price is right.
"Now, will they trade Duchene for sure? No, not for sure. But they are calling teams about him. Teams are calling them about him. There's something there."
LeBrun's TSN colleague, Darren Dreger, furthered talk of a potential Duchene deal by suggesting that Sakic actually reached out to Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray to see if they'd have interest in acquiring the former first-round pick.
Per Dreger, Murray and Co. are "intrigued" by Duchene, who, through 16 games this season, has seven goals and four assists for the Avs.
A pair of reports from Thursday may shed light on the likelihood of such a deal actually being consummated. First, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun suggested that Sens GM Bryan Murray has pushed the possibility of any trade onto the backburner for the time being, choosing instead to focus the franchise's efforts on improvement from within.
Sakic, per a report from Adrian Dater - who also was the first to suggest that Duchene's name was being bandied about in trade discussions - is eyeing any and every deal that could potentially upgrade his struggling lineup.
Last year's leading scorer for the Avs, Jarome Iginla, isn't willing to waive his no-trade clause in order to facilitate a deal this season, but Duchene, in the second year of a contract that carries him through 2018-19 at an AAV of $6 million, has no such clauses in his contract.
Would the Avs and Sakic seriously consider poaching from their forward pool in order to upgrade their struggling blueline? It sure sounds like they're considering it. But will Murray actually talk turkey on a player who would certainly upgrade the skill level of his forward corps, but also cost a bundle, both in terms of players and/or picks, as well as actual dollars and cents.
Duchene, as talented as he is, has been playing out of position on the right wing of late as Roy looks to find a combination that works. He would likely fetch a considerable return for Colorado, the question, as it always is, is what that return would like look and who would be willing to pay it.
