Matt Duchene

Matt Duchene
Duchene in November 2014
Born	(1991-01-16) January 16, 1991 Haliburton, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Left
NHL team	Colorado Avalanche
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	3rd overall, 2009 Colorado Avalanche
Playing career	2009–present
Medal record Competitor for  Canada Winter Olympics Gold 2014 Sochi Team IIHF World U18 Championships Gold 2008 Russia Team

Matthew Duchene (pronounced: [dyˈʃɛn]; born January 16, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected third overall by Colorado in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Playing career

Minor

Duchene grew up playing minor hockey for the OMHA's Central Ontario Wolves (Lindsay, Ontario) of the Eastern AAA League. He also spent his early hockey years playing for his hometown Haliburton Huskies before moving up to the AAA level. In 2006, Duchene verbally stated he was interested in college hockey in the United States and verbally committed to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). After the 2006–07 season with the Wolves, however, Duchene was selected in the first round of the 2007 OHL Priority Selection by the Brampton Battalion.

Junior

Duchene played junior in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2007–08, and recorded 30 goals and 50 points in his rookie campaign. The following season, he improved to 79 points in 57 games, then added 26 points in the post-season, helping the Battalion to the J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals, where they were defeated by eventual Memorial Cup champions, the Windsor Spitfires.

Going into the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Duchene was ranked second overall among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, behind just John Tavares.^[1] Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman was also considered a strong candidate with Tavares for the first overall selection. Duchene's well-rounded, two-way game, however, garnered him attention for the top pick, as well.^[2] After Tavares and Hedman were picked first and second, Duchene was selected third overall by the Colorado Avalanche. Growing up as an Avalanche fan,^[3] Duchene quickly became a fan favourite after video footage showed him pumping his fist after Hedman was selected second overall to the Tampa Bay Lightning, sealing his fate as an Avalanche draftee.^[4] Having played alongside Vancouver Canucks prospect Cody Hodgson, who had been selected tenth overall the previous year, in Brampton, Ontario, Duchene sought draft advice from him over the course of the season.^[2] Duchene has drawn comparisons to such retired NHLers as Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic, as well as current NHL star Mike Richards.^[5]

Professional

Duchene notched his first career NHL point in his Avalanche debut on October 1, 2009, against the San Jose Sharks with an assist on a powerplay goal by defenceman John-Michael Liles.^[6] His first goal came later that month on October 17 against Chris Osgood in a 4–3 shootout win against the Detroit Red Wings.^[7] It was announced the next day that Duchene would spend the entire season with the Avalanche.^[8]

On November 30, 2009, Duchene compiled his first two-goal NHL game in a 3–0 shutout victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning.^[9] The next game, against the Florida Panthers on December 2, 2009, Duchene tallied his second two-goal game and first three-point game of his career,^[10] scoring twice against Florida's Scott Clemmensen and assisting on a goal by Chris Stewart in a 6–5 shootout loss.^[11] It marked the first time that an 18-year-old recorded back-to-back two-goal games in the NHL since Radek Dvořák did it with Florida in November 1995.^[10] Duchene was subsequently selected as the NHL Rookie of the Month for December 2009, scoring five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 14 games.^[10]

On April 6, 2010, the Avalanche had the opportunity to clinch a playoff berth with a victory against the Vancouver Canucks. Tied 3–3 after overtime, Duchene scored the game-winning shootout goal against Roberto Luongo to send the Avalanche into the playoffs for the first time since 2008.^[12] Duchene finished his rookie NHL season third on the Avalanche in scoring with 55 points, and second in goals with 24.^[13] Among NHL rookies, he finished first in points, ahead of John Tavares by one, and tied with Tavares for first in goals.^[14] Duchene added three assists in six playoff games as the Avalanche were eliminated by the San Jose Sharks in the opening round. After completion of the season, he was selected to the NHL All-Rookie Team and placed third in Calder Memorial Trophy voting, the award given to the league's top rookie of the season.^[15]

The following season, in 2010–11, Duchene recorded his first five minute major for fighting, against opponent Vladimír Sobotka of the St. Louis Blues on November 15, 2010. Several months later, he was chosen to participate in his first NHL All-Star Game. During the contest, he became the first player in All-Star Game history to be awarded a penalty shot when Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin tossed his stick toward Duchene on a breakaway. Duchene's attempt, however, was turned away by Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers.^[16] Soon thereafter, Duchene recorded his 100th career NHL point on January 26, 2011, with a goal against Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov in a 5–2 loss. The goal made him the youngest player in franchise history (including the Quebec Nordiques era) to record the milestone, beating Duchene's boyhood idol, Joe Sakic. Duchene finished the season with 67 points and became the youngest player in Avalanche history to lead the team in scoring.

On November 4, 2011, Duchene tallied his first career hat trick in a 7–6 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars. This game also marked Duchene's first career four-point game. Having missed only three games in his previous two seasons combined, his third season in the NHL would see only 58 games, tried by left-knee, and later right-ankle, injuries. After the 2011–12 season, Duchene confirmed to The Denver Post that after his ankle injury, he played the remaining games of the season hurt in a desperate bid for the playoffs that ended for the Avs after game 81.^[17] He finished his season scoring 28 points with 14 goals.

On June 23, 2012, Duchene, as a restricted free agent, agreed to a two-year deal with the Avalanche worth $7 million.^[18] With the 2012–13 NHL lockout in effect, however, Duchene signed an initial two month contract with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League on October 2, 2012.^[19] He made his debut on October 14 in a 4–3 win against Modo Hockey, where he contributed with two assists.^[20] Nearing the completion of his contract with Modo, it was announced Duchene would not be extended and in his final game with Frölunda he scored the game-winning goal in a 3–1 victory over Linköpings HC. He was given a standing ovation after the game and finished with four goals and 14 points in 19 games.^[21] The following day, on December 9, 2012, Duchene continued to remain in Europe to sign a one-month contract, with the option for the remainder of the Lockout, with HC Ambrì-Piotta of the Swiss National League A.^[22] He appeared in four games, producing five points over the next month with Ambrì, which was limited by a Spengler Cup selection. After a tentative agreement to end the NHL lockout was reached, Duchene was farewelled by Ambrì fans on January 7, 2013.^[23]

Duchene and the Avalanche agreed to a five-year, $30 million contract extension on July 18, 2013.^[24]

The 2013–14 season saw Duchene leading a resurgent Avalanche team to a Central Division title. He went on to lead the team in assists, points and tied Ryan O'Reilly in game-winning goals with six. On March 31, 2014, the Avalanche announced that Duchene would likely miss four weeks with a knee injury after colliding with teammate Jamie McGinn during a game against the San Jose Sharks.^[25] He missed the Avalanche's first five playoff games as a result of the injury, but came back to play Games 6 and 7, posting three assists. The Avalanche, however, lost the quarter-final series in seven games to the Minnesota Wild.

International play

Duchene made his international debut at the 2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He scored 10 points in six games to help Team Ontario to a gold medal. The same year, he was named to Team Canada's under-18 team for the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships in April and selected as Captain at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August and won two more gold medals at those tournaments.^[26][27] Playing in his second major junior season, Duchene took part in Team Canada's junior camp for the 2009 World Junior Championships, but was cut.^[2]

Following his rookie season in the NHL, Duchene was played for Team Canada's roster for the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany.^[28] He made his full international debut, and recorded a goal and assist, in a 5–1 preliminary round win against Italy on May 8, 2010.^[29] Duchene finished the tournament with four goals for seven points in seven games after Canada was eliminated in the quarter-final by Russia.^[30]

Duchene was added to Team Canada's World Championship team in 2011 for a second consecutive season, following the Avalanche's failure to make the playoffs.^[31] He was unable to repeat his point scoring performance from the previous year, going scoreless in seven games as Canada finished in fifth place.^[32]

After signing a NHL lockout contract in Switzerland with HC Ambrì-Piotta in 2012, Duchene was added to Team Canada for the annual Spengler Cup. In four games, Duchene scored five points and was selected as the center to the All-Star Team in helping Canada win the Cup for the first time since 2007.^[33]

On January 7, 2014, Duchene was named to the 2014 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team. Duchene was used as Canada's extra forward or as a healthy scratch in Canada's round robin stage. After a tournament ending knee injury to John Tavares suffered in the quarter-finals, Duchene was inserted as the fourth line center for the semi-final and the gold medal game against Sweden on February 23.^[34]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2006–07	Central Ontario Wolves	OMHA		52	69	37	106	36		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Brampton Battalion	OHL		64	30	20	50	22		5	1	1	2	10
2008–09	Brampton Battalion	OHL		57	31	48	79	42		21	14	12	26	21
2009–10	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		81	24	31	55	16		6	0	3	3	0
2010–11	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		80	27	40	67	33		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		58	14	14	28	8		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Frölunda HC	SHL		19	4	10	14	12		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	HC Ambrì-Piotta	NLA		4	2	3	5	2		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		47	17	26	43	12		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		71	23	47	70	19		2	0	3	3	2
2014–15	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		82	21	34	55	16		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				419	126	192	318	104		8	0	6	6	2

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2008	Canada	U17	01 !		6	4	6	10	8
2008	Canada	WJC18	01 !		7	5	3	8	6
2008	Canada	IH18	01 !		4	1	3	4	4
2010	Canada	WC	7th		7	4	3	7	0
2011	Canada	WC	5th		7	0	0	0	2
2013	Canada	WC	5th		8	4	1	5	0
2014	Canada	OG	01 !		4	0	0	0	0
Junior totals					17	10	12	22	18
Senior totals					26	8	4	12	2

Awards and honours

Award	Year
OHL
Bobby Smith Trophy	2009	[35]
NHL
All-Rookie Team	2010	[36]
NHL All-Star Game	2011
International
Spengler Cup All-Star Team	2012	[33]
Olympic gold medal	2014

References

External links

• Matt Duchene's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Matt Duchene's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Matt Duchene's player profile at NHL.com

Preceded by Kevin Shattenkirk	Colorado Avalanche first round draft pick 2009	Succeeded by Joey Hishon