Handing out trade grades after Duchene-Turris blockbuster
It's done.
After more than a year of speculation as to where and when the Colorado Avalanche would trade Matt Duchene, those questions have been answered. Ultimately it's the Ottawa Senators that landed Duchene, but not without a large helping hand from the Nashville Predators.
Related: Avs trade Duchene to Sens in 3-way deal involving Predators
The three clubs came together to make a blockbuster deal that largely addresses the needs of each, but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, some general managers make the grade over their colleagues.
Predators: A-
While they didn't get their initial target, the Predators have to be happy walking away with a different potential No. 1 center in the form of Kyle Turris.
In late June it was reported that the Predators - along with the Columbus Blue Jackets - had presented offers to the Avalanche in an attempt to acquire Duchene. While that trade never came to fruition, in Turris they get an equally capable center.
In fact, Duchene (0.74) holds only a slight edge over Turris (0.70) in the area of points per game over the last four years.
In return, the Predators sacrificed a second-round pick in next June's draft along with prospects Samuel Girard and Vladislav Kamenev, both of whom were second-round selections by Nashville in the 2016 and 2014 drafts respectively.
What might be most noteworthy to the Preds is that they completed the deal without giving up any of their top-4 defensemen and, after finalizing the swap, were able to ink Turris to a friendly six-year, $36-million extension. Even with all of their top guns signed through next season the club will still have more than $9 million in cap space.
Senators: C+
The Senators got their guy.
After reports that the club had been aggressively pursuing Duchene, Pierre Dorion was able to make it all work. The final price tag was Turris, prospect Shane Bowers, goaltender Andrew Hammond, a first-round pick in 2018, and a third-round pick in 2019, all for a player who has one more year on his contract at $6 million.
In Bowers, the Senators also sacrifice their first-round selection from this past June's draft. The team is able to rid themselves of Hammond though, who - despite his brilliance two years ago - was making $1.5 million while playing in the AHL.
It's a pretty penny to give up for Duchene, meaning it will be up to the team's newest member to prove he was worth it.
Avalanche: A+
Love or hate how Joe Sakic handled the Matt Duchene-trade saga, but what can't be argued is the incredible haul he was able to get for the former first-round pick.
In all, the Avalanche acquired three prospects, one goaltender, and three selections in the next two drafts.
It's an abundance of riches and one that makes it clear as to why Sakic waited so long to pull the trigger on a deal, despite how many were on the table recently.
Told there were at least 5 occasions where the Avs were close to a deal with Duchene in past several months. Past deals better? Never know.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) November 6, 2017
The Avalanche get younger, remove their biggest distraction (though it doesn't seem to have impacted their play on the ice this season), bolster their prospect pipeline, and free up a large chunk of salary.
As with trades of this magnitude that include picks and prospects, it might be years before the true winner of the deal is known, but in the meantime one can't help but tip their hat to the Avalanche.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)