Ottawa Senators Acquire Matt Duchene In Three Team Blockbuster Trade

A few days ago, it broke that a blockbuster trade involving the Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, and Nashville Predators fell through. However, it appears that it didn’t so much fell through as it was simply delayed. Yesterday the blockbuster trade was completed between the three teams.

For over a year Matt Duchene has been rumoured to be traded and for over a year the Ottawa Senators have been interested. Finally, the deal got done yesterday in a three way trade that involved the Predators. It was a costly trade for the Ottawa Senators but ultimately one that makes them a better team today.

The Trade

In the deal the Ottawa Senators acquired Matt Duchene while the Nashville Predators acquired Kyle Turris. The Colorado Avalanche acquired a slew of prospects and draft picks. Between both teams the Avalanche acquired: A first and third round pick from Ottawa, a second round pick from Nashville, Shane Bowers, Andrew Hammond, Samuel Girard, and Vladislav Kamenev. The Avalanche acquired a package from both Ottawa and Nashville while the Sens and Preds only acquired the one player.

What Ottawa Gave Up

This is a strange deal in a sense because it appears that every team did fairly well. However, there’s no denying that the Ottawa Senators gave up the most. They gave up two draft picks including a first rounder. They lost their first round pick from 2017 in Shane Bowers, as well as Andrew Hammond. Additionally, they traded Kyle Turris. Although it was a steep price they were the team to acquire the best player in the trade in Matt Duchene.

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A Legitimate Number One Centre

Essentially what the Ottawa Senators got in this trade was an upgrade at centre in exchange for a few prospects and draft picks. Andrew Hammond was included but he was more of a salary dump. Matt Duchene is certainly an upgrade at the centre position for the Sens despite Turris being an underrated player. He has a higher ceiling that Turris and is younger. Additionally, Duchene is under contract next season giving the Sens an extra year to get an extension done.

This is a trade that although expensive makes the Sens a better team in the immediate future. It could come back to bite them if Bowers turns into a star or that first round pick becomes a good player. However, those are both maybes. Duchene is a definitive number one centre right now, something the Ottawa Senators haven’t had since Jason Spezza. He will help the Sens make a run for the Stanley Cup during their championship window.