MATT DUCHENE - Center - 28 - $6MM Cap Hit - UFA in 2019-2020
LAST UPDATED 7/28/19
After having a career season in his contract year and turning that into a 7-year $56MM deal with the Nashville Predators, Matt Duchene figures to form a dynamic one-two punch down the middle with Ryan Johansen for the next seven years. While Duchene's production this past season was that of a true first line center, regarding Duchene as a true 1C would be a bit of a mistake. Sure, he's an incredibly skilled player. He has great top speed to create time and space for himself to make plays, and has shown the ability to score at a point-per-game rate. But inconsistency and controversy has followed Duchene wherever he's been, making his massive contract a quite risky investment. Duchene scored 70 points in 73 games this past season, but after being traded to Columbus at the deadline he struggled, and he was less able to make the most of his tools and turn them into production. He's had miserable seasons before, like his 2016-17 campaign that yielded only 41 points, and he's onl scored above 65 points three times in his career. Other than those years, Duchene has been far more of a good offensive 2C than a true first liner. Duchene's defensive game is also very inconsistent, and while he sometimes could use his speed to create turnovers he more often is just far too focused on offense to make a defensive impact. Because Duchene's playmaking is based on his speed, the latter years of this contract are worrying. How will Duchene's production hold up once he's lost a step? Either way, right now he's a fine 1A center to pair with Ryan Johansen. He's got speed and playmaking abilities that are rare, so despite all of his red flags I'm sure Nashville fans are thrilled to have him to play with RyJo.
After having a career season in his contract year and turning that into a 7-year $56MM deal with the Nashville Predators, Matt Duchene figures to form a dynamic one-two punch down the middle with Ryan Johansen for the next seven years. While Duchene's production this past season was that of a true first line center, regarding Duchene as a true 1C would be a bit of a mistake. Sure, he's an incredibly skilled player. He has great top speed to create time and space for himself to make plays, and has shown the ability to score at a point-per-game rate. But inconsistency and controversy has followed Duchene wherever he's been, making his massive contract a quite risky investment. Duchene scored 70 points in 73 games this past season, but after being traded to Columbus at the deadline he struggled, and he was less able to make the most of his tools and turn them into production. He's had miserable seasons before, like his 2016-17 campaign that yielded only 41 points, and he's onl scored above 65 points three times in his career. Other than those years, Duchene has been far more of a good offensive 2C than a true first liner. Duchene's defensive game is also very inconsistent, and while he sometimes could use his speed to create turnovers he more often is just far too focused on offense to make a defensive impact. Because Duchene's playmaking is based on his speed, the latter years of this contract are worrying. How will Duchene's production hold up once he's lost a step? Either way, right now he's a fine 1A center to pair with Ryan Johansen. He's got speed and playmaking abilities that are rare, so despite all of his red flags I'm sure Nashville fans are thrilled to have him to play with RyJo.
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