Nashville Predators: Insider suggests Duchene trade talks heating up again

In the on-going drama of the NHL offseason, speculation suggests the Colorado Avalanche are ready to trade forward Duchene. Will he be a Nashville Predator?

It is an on-again-off-again relationship. Back in June, it appeared the Colorado Avalanche were ready to part ways with long-time forward Matt Duchene. Even the broadcasters on the NHL Network thought the deal was completed with the Nashville Predators when sending Colin Wilson to Denver.

Images of General Managers David Poile and Joe Sakic talking on the floor during the NHL Entry Draft made it appear Nashville was the place Duchene would land. After the Wilson trade, the Predators acquired Alexei Emelin. Surely that was the piece they would move to appease the greedy-overlord Sakic. Nothing.

Then it was the New York Islanders. And the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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Well, now there seems to be movement. Maybe. Again.

Hot-ish stove

Talks are on, again. Or so say TSN’s hockey insider Darren Dreger. In an interview with WGR550 in Buffalo, Dreger mentioned that Duchene talks are heating up. He suggests that with training camps coming up soon, front offices will be working more diligently to fill-in the missing pieces on their teams. Thus, the re-visiting of Duchene talks.

Dreger also states that the Nashville Predators are likely to have interest in Duchene. With the entire second-line being new this season, the addition of a potential 50+ point scorer is worth salivating over. Given the fact that the overall team play of the Predator versus the Avalanche was better over the last few season, seeing the Duchene that score 60-70 points is possible.

But…

At what cost? Duchene has two-years remaining with a total salary of $12.5 million due. Yes, the Predators have room for his salary, but what do they give up in the trade?

Alexei Emelin would be idea. A one-year $4 million contract would give Colorado room to add someone cheap now, and a larger contract after the season. If Sakic does not move down from his desire to have a top defensemen, it is unlikely Poile pulls the trigger.

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So, while the talks may be heating up, Duchene becoming a Predator is not likely. If it does happen, it will be another great piece to the team’s puzzle.