Change at the Top?

by Angélique C. Murray on Apr 26, 2009 2:26 PM MDT in NHL Comment 14 comments

He's the last man standing. Brampton Battalion's (OHL) Matt Duchene (pictured) recorded a hat trick that helped to propel his team to the Ontario Hockey League Finals against the Windsor Spitfires. Duchene has been a known commodity to scouts and draft followers, but a recent report from a scouting service has caused casual observers to take notice.

In the April 20th edition of The Red Line Report, Duchene was elevated to the number two ranking. His rise wasn't a surprise, but it was the fall of John Tavares to third. Tavares was given a special status that would allow him to play in the OHL as a 14 year old. He earned Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Rookie of the Year honors in 2006 and in the following season, he was the CHL Most Valuable Player. This season he passed Peter Lee for most career goals scored in the OHL with 215 (two more then Lee).

In December of 2008, he was named the Best Forward and Most Valuable Player of the World Junior Championships. In was in that tournament that Tavares was cemented in the minds of many as the projected top pick in 2009 NHL Entry Draft. While Tavares shined, defenseman Victor Hedman had a somewhat inauspicious tournament for Sweden. A mid-season trade landed Tavares with the London Knights (OHL). As the playoffs began, it was the hope that the addition of Tavares, along with other players (including Trevor Cann), would rocket the team all the way to the Memorial Cup. Unfortunately for London, they would stub their toe against Windsor.

Tavares finished the postseason with 21 points in 14 games. Yet, he didn't dominate games as some had expected. Some wondered if a shoulder injury he suffered from was still causing him problems, others questioned his passion and motivation. He has been at the top of the pedestal for so long that it was natural for others to begin picking apart his game.

While it appeared to be a lock that Tavares and Hedman would go first and second in the draft, Tavares's slump and the emergence of Matt Duchene began to shake things up. In recent weeks Matt Duchene has moved up into the top five and now is considered as a near lock as the third overall pick for the 2009 draft. Duchene has a smart two-way game and is a fantastic skater. He's a play maker, but also carries a nice wrist shot. He's described as the complete player. Perhaps not the prolific goal scorer of someone like Tavares, but someone that has the intangibles. As the second line center for the Brampton Battalion, he has 23 points in 16 playoff games. Going into the OHL Finals, he is the third highest scorer on his team.

Names like Joe Sakic, Steve Yzerman and Jonathan Toews are being thrown out to describe Duchene. Perhaps too high of praise, but he is an incredible team mate and is dedicated in all phases of the game. For John Tavares, his skating has always been a question mark, but there is little questioning of his marksmanship.

Victor Hedman is a 6'6" defenseman that has drawn comparisons to Chris Pronger and Zdeno Chara, but he may play more like Jay Bouwmeester. He's the franchise defenseman that most teams covet, a perfect defender for the "new" NHL. Hedman, along with Tavares and Duchene are seen as the consensus top three picks for the upcoming draft.

Red Line Report	TSN	Central Scouting	ISS

Victor Hedman	John Tavares	John Tavares (#1 NA)	John Tavares
Matt Duchene	Victor Hedman	Victor Hedman (#1 Europe)	Matt Duchene
John Tavares	Matt Duchene	Matt Duchene (#2 NA)	Victor Hedman

The teams holding these picks are the New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche. Barring any trades, the Avalanche are in the position to select which ever of the three players remain. While the seasons for Tavares and Hedman are over, Duchene will be vying for an opportunity to play in the Memorial Cup. As the last man standing, Duchene can still alter his position in the eyes of scouts and management groups. Yet, should a "hot" two months topple the accomplishments of Tavares or the raw talent of Hedman?

That's a question the New York Islanders will have to answer. Do you take the known player in Tavares, a player that fans have some familiarity and will certainly sell tickets. Would you prefer the smooth defenseman or perhaps the center who appears to be the complete package? The Islanders certainly have a lot to think about.

New York's decision will effect the choices of Tampa Bay and Colorado. With Vincent Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos down the middle, Tampa Bay may opt for Hedman. The Avalanche have needs everywhere and would be happy with any of the three. However, they will scout other top players, such as Vancouver Giants (WHL) forward Evander Kane. Still, with the potential retirement of Joe Sakic and a known childhood attachment to the team, Duchene feels like the perfect fit for Colorado.

A duo of Matt Duchene and Paul Stastny at center for the Avalanche would evoke memories of recent glory days and imagining of what the future may hold.

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Comments

Draft Duchene!!! I’d be happy with any of them to be honest, but I like what I’m hearing from Duchene.

by chileiceman on Apr 26, 2009 4:06 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Duchene’s having 5 GWG’s out of his 10 playoff goals is rather ridiculous considering he had a grand total of 2 GWG’s during the regular season.

Despite this, could Duchene’s playoff performance be slightly accentuated by the fact that he is playing as the number two center behind Cody Hodgson – is he getting slightly weaker minutes possibly?

by HugoAgogo on Apr 26, 2009 4:41 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Duchene is playing in all situations. Though I think the idea of leaving him in Brampton next year, letting him be “the man” so to speak and playing for Canada in the WJC is good for him. If Sakic comes back, leaving Duchene in the OHL for one more year works out nicely.

Colorado Avalanche Prospects (www.avsprospects.blogspot.com)

by Angélique C. Murray on Apr 26, 2009 7:29 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

in a perfect world i would like to have duchene spend some time on the team with joe… but this is just because i want all the kids to play with joe so they are exposed to the best of the best. you know, learn what a real hockey player is and all.

he is pretty young tho, it may be hard for him to adjust getting thrown right into the wolves’ den.

Sippin' PBR on a Colorado game day...

by mfured20 on Apr 26, 2009 7:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

there is always training camp

and pre-season. should joe come back, duchene would undoubtedly get some time with him then, wouldn’t he?

Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try. - Yoda

by BeachNSnowGirl on Apr 26, 2009 8:51 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ideally, they could sign Duchene this summer, give him a nine game trial in the regular season and then send him back to Brampton.

Colorado Avalanche Prospects (www.avsprospects.blogspot.com)

by Angélique C. Murray on Apr 26, 2009 9:37 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

would that be worth it? i mean, I guess we could get a look at him, and he could get a taste of the big leagues. and nine games isnt that much.

I guess we will have to see what happens on draft day.

Sippin' PBR on a Colorado game day...

by mfured20 on Apr 26, 2009 11:26 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nine games isn’t much, but after nine games I believe it changes his “rookie” status.

MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

by Americanario on Apr 27, 2009 11:37 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

It changes his OHL status. He can’t go back to the O after playing 10 NHL games, so he’d have to go to the ECHL or the AHL.

2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Dry Humping Mediocrity

by Mike @ MHH on Apr 27, 2009 12:36 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

and i think he’s too young for the AHL or something

by thedoctor on Apr 27, 2009 4:12 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

He can go back to the OHL. Once he plays his 10th NHL game the first year of his contract would kick in, but he can still play for Brampton. As thedoctor mentioned, he can’t play in the AHL due to his age. Players drafted out of the CHL have to be 20 years old (or turn 20 before the end of the calendar year) to play in the AHL.

Colorado Avalanche Prospects (www.avsprospects.blogspot.com)

by Angélique C. Murray on Apr 27, 2009 5:00 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks for all the clarification guys….

i guess we will have to see what our new GM does.

Sippin' PBR on a Colorado game day...

by mfured20 on Apr 27, 2009 5:36 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.. even 1, but more like if he were 2 yrs older/experienced would make a huge difference in joining the team..

by Where is Bob Hartley? on Apr 26, 2009 10:30 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The great thing about this

Is that a few weeks ago, everyone saw the draft as having two sure-thing franchise players and the Avs were outside looking in after the lottery. Now it seems like more and more people are seeing three sure-thing franchise players.

So they’ll probably trade down. ;)

MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.

by Bob in Boulder on Apr 28, 2009 2:27 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs