NHL Rumors: Predators, Blackhawks and Avalanche
Matt Duchene of the Colorado Avalanche and Ryan Ellis of the Nashville Predators
On the Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks and Matt Duchene …

Adrian Dater: “I’m told that any Matt Duchene-to-Nashville or Chicago rumors are unfounded”

On the Nashville Predators and Matt Duchene …

Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Pierre LeBrun on TSN Insider Trading on the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene.

“I can tell you that David Poile of the Nashville Predators has, at the very least, checked in once or twice with Colorado on the availability of Matt Duchene,” said LeBrun. “Now, it hasn’t progressed past that and lots of teams, as we know, have checked in on Matt Duchene.

“I think the question for David Poile has to be this: He’s made these big blockbuster trades – two in the last 13 months – and I think his sense is his team finally is now finding chemistry. They’ve rocked the boat a bit. Does he want to make another impact move and have that team struggle to come together again, or does he feel that a guy like Duchene is just that much worth it for them.

LeBrun on TSN 690 on the asking price for Duchene.

“It’s been laid out by Joe Sakic to about a dozen teams,” noted LeBrun. “He wants a high-end, young prospect-age defenseman – or if not prospect, in his early 20s – as part of a package that also includes plus-plus. Whether that’s a first-round pick and another asset, who knows. Depends on the team making the offer. But it’s a huge ask for Matt Duchene.”

Bob McKenzie on TSN 690 said he’s not surprised about a team like Nashville being interested in Duchene. Get the sense that the Predators need to make the playoffs, and they need and want to make some noise.

“I think David Poile is going to be fairly aggressive in terms of what he’s looking at at the deadline, so it didn’t surprise me to hear Pierre LeBrun report yesterday that Nashville is one of many teams that are looking at Duchene.”