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Montreal Canadiens Rumor: Matt Duchene On Their Radar

By Ken MacMillan

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 22: Columbus Blue Jackets Center Matt Duchene (95) waits for a face-off during first period National Hockey League action between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators on February 22, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 22: Columbus Blue Jackets Center Matt Duchene (95) waits for a face-off during first period National Hockey League action between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators on February 22, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Montreal Canadiens had a better season than expected, but rumour has it they are looking to upgrade their roster in a big way by signing Matt Duchene this summer.

The Montreal Canadiens barely missed the postseason this year. They were not supposed to come anywhere near the playoffs after an abysmal 2017-18 season. However, rumor on the street says they aren’t happy with their positive strides.

According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, in his 31 Thoughts blog today, the Canadiens are going to be making a push for Matt Duchene. He also mentions the Habs quietly made a play for Duchene at the trade deadline.

The Columbus Blue Jackets ended up with Duchene at the deadline after putting together a package of prospects and picks. It’s hard to say the trade didn’t work out for the Blue Jackets. The team finally broke through and won their first ever playoff series, sweeping the Tampa Bay Lightning in round one.

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However, they gave up their first-round pick in the upcoming draft and a couple of top prospects in Vitaly Abramov and Jonathan Davidsson. They will also have to hand over their first-round pick in 2020 if they re-sign Duchene.

That is a hefty price to pay. However, if the Canadiens acquired Duchene, they could have swapped fates with the Blue Jackets. Would giving up, say, their first-round pick, Jesse Ylonen and Alex Alain have been worth a second round exit? Would you be willing to give all that up as well as another first rounder to re-sign Duchene?

Probably not. That’s a heavy price to pay. It might have been worth it for the Blue Jackets who have never won a playoff round before. In Montreal, fans are quite familiar with the taste of a first-round victory. Selling the farm for six playoff wins isn’t worth it for the Habs.

However, making a pitch for the Haliburton, Ontario native this summer makes a lot of sense. Center ice has been a black hole for the Habs for many years. They have been building up the position lately with the drafting of Ryan Poehling and Jesperi Kotkaniemi as well as trading for Phillip Danault and Max Domi.

However, Kotkaniemi may not be ready for top-line duty just yet. Poehling might not be ready for full-time NHL duties yet (though he is averaging three goals per game) and Domi might be best suited on the wing long term.

Signing Duchene would ensure the team has more depth at the position. He would also fit the fast-paced style that the Canadiens currently play. This could allow Poehling more time to develop in the American Hockey League, or perhaps allow Domi to move back to left wing.

Imagine a top six consisting of Duchene, Domi, Jonathan Drouin followed by the trio of Brendan Gallagher, Danault and Tomas Tatar. That still leaves the Finnish trio of Kotkaniemi, Joel Armia and Artturi Lehkonen as well as Andrew Shaw and Paul Byron. Impressive depth and we haven’t even mentioned Nick Suzuki yet.

Duchene is coming off one of his best seasons yet. The 28-year-old somehow managed 58 points in 50 games with the awful Ottawa Senators before his trade. He finished the season with 70 points in 73 games. Though he didn’t light it up upon arriving in Columbus, he did score ten points in ten playoff games, helping them get through the Lightning.

Center is not the biggest need for the Montreal Canadiens. However, anytime you can add a point per game middle-man on the right side of 30, you need to take a long look. The Habs certainly have the cap space to bring in a player of Duchene’s ilk.

Next. Who Will The Habs Draft?. dark

The only question is, will the Canadiens be willing to offer Duchene a seven-year deal at $8 million? There will be several offers for the kid who grew up cheering for the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche. He already, fulfilled one dream suiting up in an Avs jersey, does he want to live another and wear the bleu, blanc et rouge?

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