Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene, the subject of unexpectedly rampant trade rumors earlier this NHL season, didn't know what to make of the talk of his possibly being shipped elsewhere when he first heard it.
"I can honestly say it probably bothered me for about 12 hours," Duchene told Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun. "And then it was over."
But while he got over it pretty quickly, whatever confusion or frustration or bother he was feeling pushed Duchene to at least reach out to one or both of Avalanche GM Joe Sakic and head coach Patrick Roy and ask what they were thinking.
Speaking to Brennan, Duchene wouldn't elaborate on what was said in those talks with Avalanche decision-makers, but it's probably safe to say there wasn't a lot of hugging or handshakes afterwards.
"It was because of the way I found out," Duchene said of his confusion after hearing the initial reports, per Brennan. "We won in Boston, and my first interview, first question the guy asked me was about trade rumors. I hadn't heard anything about it. So it was kind of sprung on me weird, and it took me a second ... it took me a little bit to digest it."
Duchene probably wasn't alone in feeling like the reports were sprung on him, in a strange fashion or not. Duchene's a talented young center, who, while not yet "elite," is certainly circling that category, especially of late. The former first-round pick now has 11 goals and eight assists in 22 games this season, including a 10-game stretch wherein he potted 10 goals and added six assists.
He's also one of Colorado's most visible and popular players. In short, talk that the team was considering moving him was shocking, on a number of levels.
But Duchene, who would likely be justified in questioning his position with the team moving forward, has been adamant that he has no desire to play for another NHL franchise.
If he keeps playing like he has recently, he likely won't have to worry about it. The rest of the Avs players not named Duchene and MacKinnon though - well, that's a different story.
