I think 2017 is the year Duchene does not survive the rumor mill and is actually traded. Hanifin for Duchene makes too much sense at this points. The team needs, the scouting patterns, the stages of rebuild.
I was talking to a friend this morning about this. Until a few weeks ago, my preference had always been to keep the core together and get rid of the deadweight first. But over the past little while I started thinking about the Oilers and how their 'once considered top-notch assets' (Eberle, RNH, Yakupov) all had their value plummet while the new guys (McDavid and Draisaitl) started taking over. The Oilers' window to move those guys out and get max value closed about 1.5 years ago (approximately) and now they are considered to be on 'not great/bad contracts' for what they bring.
Perhaps the Avs are leary of this and prefer to make a move when the going is good?? I don't know. I don't doubt that Duchene would perform extremely well elsewhere though...I think he'd be rejuvenated.
Those lockerroom rumors right now seem to entirely be about MacKinnon throwing hissy fits.
Don't think that is impossible. If the Canes trade for Duchene, they want to go for it right now.
Might as well make it a bigger deal.
Avs seem to like this when it comes to bigger deals. EJ for Shatty/Stewart involved plenty of moving pieces. So did the ROR deal.
Also if the Canes are really desperate for Duchene as RL seems to be indicating, there certainly is a good case to be made that they have to add to Hanifin to land him. We will see. I hope something around those two gets done. If the Avs can squeeze out a bit more than all the better.
I am not aware of the lockerroom issues? Could you point me to the information where I could read up on it?
I think it would HAVE to be a bigger deal regardless. I think both sides wants protection in case (Avs) Hanifin doesn't pan out as expected and (Canes) Duchene bolts for UFA in 2.5 years...if that is indeed the deal.
So something like :
Duchene + Bigras + Tyutin + 2nd Rd Pick
for
Hanifin + Lindholm + Gauthier
OR 1st Rd Pick
Or something like that. This also fits into the 'Francis has asked his scouts to scout the Avs organizational prospects' narrative that we heard.