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Ottawa Senators: Matt Duchene is Worth the Money

By Hunter Eitel

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 07: Ottawa Senators Center Matt Duchene (95) celebrates his goal during second period National Hockey League action between the Anaheim Ducks and Ottawa Senators on February 7, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 07: Ottawa Senators Center Matt Duchene (95) celebrates his goal during second period National Hockey League action between the Anaheim Ducks and Ottawa Senators on February 7, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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It’s time for the Ottawa Senators to pay the 28-year old center before it’s too late.

Over the weekend, Matt Duchene played in his 700th NHL game. Duchene has now played 114 games with the Ottawa Senators after playing his first 586 games with the Colorado Avalanche.

Acquired from the Avs on November 5th, 2017, the Haliburton-born 28-year old has scored 102 points with the Sens, including 53 points this season. Now, as you’ve probably heard Duchene will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. The Sens have tried to avoid this, offering Duchene a rumored eight-year, $64 million deal.

That is a lot of money, but if it keeps him in a Senators uniform, then it will all be worth it in the end.

A Solid Anchor Up The Middle

Statistically, the former 3rd-overall pick (2009) has been rock solid during his time in the NHL. In his 700 career games, Duchene has amassed 226 goals and 304 assists. He has been a great special teams contributor, with 124 of his points coming on the power play. In the face-off circle he has won 5,232 compared to 4,650 losses (52.9% success rate).

This season, Duchene has been lighting up the scoreboard. Despite missing seven games, he has put up 53 points in 46 games, or 1.15 points per game. If he can keep up this solid pace he will post a new career high in points (His previous career high was 70 points 71 games in 2013-14). He is also sporting a spectacular 21.6 shooting percentage on 191 shots, the fifth best shooting percentage in the NHL.

Duchene’s stats have been solid throughout his career, and this season is proving to be his best yet.

That Damn Trade

But his stats are only a part of the story as to why the Senators need to keep Duchene in Ottawa. The trade to acquire him saw the Sens give Colorado their first round pick in 2018 or 2019 (Eventually revealed to be the 2019 pick), a 2019 third round pick and they also shipped Kyle Turris off to Nashville.

Losing Turris then being unable to sign Duchene would sting; throw in losing the 2019 first rounder and it would be catastrophic. It now means it is paramount that the Senators re-sign #95. Losing Duchene would mean that Pierre Dorion gave away a crucial piece of the Senators’ future for a player who dressed in less than 200 games for the organization.

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Keep Duchene In Ottawa!

Considering his performance with the Ottawa Senators and what was given up for him, Dorion and Eugene Melnyk should make sure that Matt Duchene is back in Ottawa for the 2019-20 season. It would give the team a proven offensive star and help shape the team’s identity going into what will be an interesting few years in the nation’s capital.

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