Matt Duchene, center piece of the Colorado Avalanche rebuild, is struggling.
After a very strong start his first 10 games, the third overall selection from the 2009 NHL entry draft have essentially been a ghost.
Not only has he been invisible on the ice, but he's not chipping in offensively at all. The first ten games of the season he scored six points. In the eight games since, he only has one point.
He's also a team worst minus-seven, and has been held shot-less three times in the last six games.
To make matters worse for Duchene, rookie counterpart Ryan O'Reilly has taken the NHL by storm. He's been arguably the most clutch player for the Avalanche, and has been phenomenal in the defensive zone-and subsequently has a plus-13 rating, second highest in the entire NHL.
But, just like it's unfair to compare one's children, it's unfair to compare Duchene and O'Reilly.
Duchene's game is completely speed and finesse, and this type of game is usually takes longer to translate into the NHL, given the opposition is bigger, stronger, and faster.
Case and point: Steven Stamkos, drafted first overall by th ...
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Article written by James Crider
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene Struggling To Adjust
November 9th, 2009 by James Crider Leave a reply »
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