Matt Duchene

Lore & Background

Duchene grew up playing minor hockey for the Central Ontario Wolves and the Haliburton Huskies before being selected by the Brampton Battalion in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection. He played two seasons with the Battalion, helping them reach the J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals in 2009. Entering the 2009 NHL draft, he was ranked second among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. After John Tavares and Victor Hedman were taken first and second, Duchene was selected third by the Avalanche. Video footage showed him pumping his fist after Hedman was chosen second, confirming he would join Colorado, a team he grew up supporting. He drew comparisons to Steve Yzerman, Joe Sakic, and Mike Richards during his junior career.

Reader's Guide

Duchene made an immediate impact with the Avalanche, finishing his rookie season first among NHL rookies in points and tied for first in goals, earning a spot on the NHL All-Rookie team and placing third in Calder Memorial Trophy voting. He became the youngest player in Avalanche history to lead the team in scoring in his second season. In 2013–14, he led a resurgent Avalanche team to a Central Division title, leading the team in assists and points. Despite a knee injury that caused him to miss the first five playoff games, he returned to register three assists in games six and seven. He served as an alternate captain for the 2016–17 season. After requesting a trade, he was dealt mid-game on November 5, 2017, in a three-team trade involving the Ottawa Senators and Nashville Predators. He later played for the Columbus Blue Jackets and set a franchise single-season goals record with the Predators.

Did You Know?

• Duchene recorded his first career NHL point on October 1, 2009, with an assist on a powerplay goal by John-Michael Liles.
• He became the first player in NHL All-Star Game history to be awarded a penalty shot when Alexander Ovechkin tossed his stick toward him on a breakaway.
• During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Duchene played for Frölunda HC in Sweden and HC Ambrì-Piotta in Switzerland.
• He was one of multiple Senators players caught on tape in an Uber disparaging their assistant coach in October 2018.