Matt Duchene

BIOGRAPHY

Matt Duchene was born January 16, 1991 in Haliburton, Ontario, Canada. He is a center in the National Hockey League.

Duchene was selected third overall by the Avalanche in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Duchene was selected third overall by the Colorado Avalanche. Growing up as an Avalanche fan, Duchene quickly became a fan favourite after video footage showed him pumping his fist after Hedman was selected second overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning, effectively sealing his fate as an Avalanche draftee. Duchene recorded his first career NHL point in his Avalanche debut on 1 October 2009. Duchene's first goal came later that month on 17 October against Chris Osgood in a 4–3 shootout win over the Detroit Red Wings. On 30 November, Duchene compiled his first two-goal NHL game in a 3–0 shutout victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. On 13 October 2016, the Avalanche announced that Duchene would serve as an alternate captain for the 2016–17 season. On 5 November 2017, Duchene was pulled mid-game in a contest against the New York Islanders and traded to the Ottawa Senators as the Avalanche made a three-team trade with Ottawa and the Nashville Predators. In 68 games for the Senators, Duchene recorded 23 goals and 26 assists. Duchene entered the 2018–19 season in the final year of his contract. In 50 games for the Senators, he scored 27 goals and 31 assists. On 22 February 2019, Duchene was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets qualified for the 2019 playoffs as the Eastern Conference's final wildcard team, upsetting the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning in four games. Duchene finished the playoffs with five goals and five assists in ten games. On 1 July 2019, Duchene signed a seven-year, $56-million contract with the Nashville Predators, worth an annual average of $8 million.