The Colorado Avalanche: News from around the NHL - August 1st, 2013

Matt Duchene is thrilled to have been invited to the Olympics camp.

Haliburton’s Matt Duchene has a lot to play for this season.

Within five days this summer, Duchene was not only given a contract extension with his NHL team the Colorado Avalanche, but been invited to the orientation for the Olympic hockey team. He is honoured and motivated by the invite.

“The camp invite means a lot, making the Olympic team is a major goal of mine and this is the first step. I’m excited to get back on the ice to continue to prove I deserve to be in the conversation for the team. The guys who have the best starts to the season are going to give themselves the best shots at making it,” he wrote in a text message from Halifax.

Scott Gomez will be a Panther.

The Florida Panthers have signed centre Scott Gomez to a one-year contract.

The Alaska native had 15 points in 39 games for San Jose last season. The Sharks signed Gomez after the Montreal Canadiens bought out his lucrative and controversial contract after the NHL lockout.

Gomez became a lightning rod for criticism in Montreal, where his production drastically declined.

What about a team in Seattle?

The NHL may be pushing for a team in Seattle sooner rather than later.

According to Seattle sports radio station KJR 950, commissionery Gary Bettman is encouraging the league’s board of governors to make an expansion team available to the city.

The cost of the new club would be approximately $275 million. The team would begin play in the 2014-15 season.