We watched Matt Duchene grow up in Colorado. Now it’s time to let him go.
He joined the Avalanche as an immensely talented and admittedly naive 18-year-old center who unabashedly idolized Joe Sakic, the general manager now shopping Duchene as the Feb. 28 trade deadline approaches.
As the team leader in goals scored, Duchene is among the painfully scarce reasons to watch the league’s most gosh-awful team. But he is prepared to leave Colorado, ready to embrace the fresh start a trade to a new NHL city could bring.
“I’m open to it,” Duchene said Wednesday.