Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene skates against the New York Rangers on October 5, 2017 (Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Forward Matt Duchene wanted out of Colorado. Sunday, he got his wish.
The Avalanche sent Duchene to the Ottawa Senators in a trade that also involved the Nashville Predators. The Avs got a return of prospects and draft picks, all of which is detailed below.
Adrian Dater of BSN Denver was one of a couple reporters who caught up with Duchene on Sunday after the Avs game against the New York Islanders. It turned out to be Duchene's final game with the Avs.
Click on the picture below for reaction from GM Joe Sakic, head coach Jared Bednar, along with Avs players Gabriel Landeskog and Erik Johnson.
The Ottawa Senators introduced Duchene on Monday, November 6. Here is the entire press conference with Matt and Senators' GM Pierre Dorion.
AVALANCHE ACQUIRES FOUR PLAYERS, ALONG WITH FIRST, SECOND & THIRD-ROUND PICKS IN THREE-TEAM TRADE
Colorado Acquires Samuel Girard and Vladislav Kamenev from Nashville, Shane Bowers, Andrew Hammond from Ottawa
BROOKLYN, NY – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Samuel Girard, forward Vladislav Kamenev and a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft from the Nashville Predators, as well as forward Shane Bowers, goaltender Andrew Hammond, a first-round selection in the 2018 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in 2019 from the Ottawa Senators. The Avalanche has sent forward Matt Duchene to the Ottawa Senators, and the Nashville Predators receive Kyle Turris from Ottawa.
“We feel this deal brings us some top prospects as well as some high draft picks as we continue to build for both the short and long-term future,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President & General Manager Joe Sakic. “We’ve said all along that we wanted to be patient and wait for the right deal, and this is the opportunity we feel is best for the organization.”
Girard, 19, was a second-round pick (47th overall) of the Nashville Predators in the 2016 NHL Draft. The Roberval, Quebec, native has notched three points (1g, 2a) in five games with the Predators this season, his first in professional hockey. A two-time QMJHL First All-Star Team selection (2015-16 & 2016-17), Girard accumulated 192 points (24g, 168a) in 190 career games with Shawinigan.
The 5-foot-10, 162-pound blueliner led all QMJHL defensemen with 75 points (9g, 66a) in 2016-17, his 66 assists pacing all league skaters. He earned QMJHL Defenseman of the Year honors in 2015-16 where he put up 74 points (10g, 64a), which ranked first among league defensemen in points and assists.
Kamenev, 21, was a second-round selection (42nd overall) of the Predators in the 2014 NHL Draft and has spent the previous two campaigns with the Milwaukee Admirals. The Orsk, Russia, native has collected eight points (3g, 5a) in 10 games with the Admirals this season, ranking second on the team in points and assists. He totaled 51 points (21g, 30a) in 2016-17, finishing second on the team in points and third in both goals and assists.
Internationally, Kamenev led Russia to a silver medal at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. Serving as team captain, he also led the squad with five goals in seven games at the tournament while finishing tied for third with six points.
Bowers, 18, was Ottawa’s first selection (first round, 28th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft. A freshman at Boston University this season, he’s registered six points (4g, 2a) in 10 games and is tied for second on the team in goals. The Halifax, Nova Scotia, native spent two campaigns (2015-17) with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League, where he totaled 84 points (37g, 47a) in 116 career contests.
The 6-foot-2, 186-pound center was named to the USHL Third All-Star Team in 2016-17 after earning All-Rookie Second Team honors the year before. Internationally, he represented Canada at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, recording a point (1g, 0a) in four games. He also captained Canada Black at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
Hammond, 29, has spent the 2017-18 season with the Belleville Senators and is 2-2-1-1 in seven games this season with a 2.21 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. Signed by Ottawa as a free agent in 2013, Hammond has a 27-14-6 record in 55 career NHL games, posting a 2.31 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage, all with the Senators. During the 2014-15 season, Hammond helped launch Ottawa into the playoffs by posting a 20-1-2 regular-season record, all of which took place between Feb. 16 and the regular-season finale on April 11.
The Surrey, British Columbia, native, played four seasons at Bowling Green, earning the team’s most valuable player and best defensive player awards after both the 2010-11 and 2011-12 campaigns. He finished 30-68-13 in 111 collegiate games.
Duchene, Colorado’s first-round pick (3rd overall) in the 2009 NHL Draft, is in his ninth NHL season. He ranks 10th in franchise history with 428 points (178g, 250a) in 585 career contests. He also ranks seventh in franchise history in goals and 10th in assists.