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NHL Trade Rumors: Avalanche willing to move Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog

By Dave Stevenson

Dec 22, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) controls the puck in the third period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Pepsi Center. The Maple Leafs won 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) controls the puck in the third period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Pepsi Center. The Maple Leafs won 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Colorado Avalanche are willing to trade Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog but both will require an expensive price tag

After their Monday night loss to the Vancouver Canucks, the Colorado Avalanche have hit rock bottom. They are officially the worst team in the NHL with a 12-24-1 record. It seems the Avalanche are embracing a rebuild, as Elliotte Friedman notes they are willing to trade their core players. This includes both star forward Matt Duchene and captain Gabriel Landeskog.

"If you want to come at [the Avalanche] with good, young defencemen or prospects, [they] are prepared to listen. But the packages are going to have to be big because they look at both [Duchene and Landeskog] and see good players signed to good contracts."

The price for young defensemen has been set thanks to the Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson trade. However, it’s a price the Avalanche must be willing to pay. Tyson Barrie, even though he has been much better as of late, is struggling. Erik Johnson is their only true top defenseman. Perhaps former head coach Patrick Roy was right when he implied the core is the problem in Colorado.

Of the two, the Avalanche can probably get more for Duchene. He’s in the third year of a five year deal with a very manageable cap hit of $6 million per year. However, Colorado could also get quite a bit for Landeskog. A leadership change could help the Avalanche transition. Landeskog has a $5.71 million cap hit and is in the third year of a seven year deal. He does, however, have a modified no-trade clause.

Must Read: 5 Teams Who Should Trade For Jarome Iginla

On top of Duchene and Landeskog, the Avalanche also have forward Jarome Iginla to trade. Colorado could get a nice jump-start to a very necessary rebuild if they play their cards right.

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