Matt Duchene – Center – 26 Years Old – $6 Million Cap Hit
Matt Duchene might be the best available player on the trade market. The Bruins have a slew of centers on their roster, but their three top options are all over 30 years old. While the Bruins would have to break the bank to acquire someone of Duchene’s caliber, any potential deal sending the 26-year-old to Boston would also rely on a contract like David Krejci’s being sent back.
This is the biggest long-shot player on this list, but he’s still worth mentioning given the sheer talent he possesses. Duchene has recorded at least 20 goals in five of his six full NHL seasons. His only season with less than 20 goals came in 2011-12 when the former third-overall pick scored 14 goals in in 58 games in his worst season to date. Duchene has scored 30 goals once, 50 points five times – including 67 points in 2010-11 and 70 points in 2013-14, and his best hockey is likely still ahead of him as he’s just entering the prime years of his career.
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At 5 foot 11 and 200 pounds, Duchene has the size to play down the middle for the Bruins. His offensive creativity could be invaluable for the Bruins, especially in a new offense-first system. While he may not be as reliable defensively as Krejci, Duchene’s consistent offensive output each season should be enough to make up for it.
Unfortunately, any deal involving Duchene would definitely feature around Carlo, similarly to Landeskog. For this reason, Duchene is likely just a pipe dream for Boston – still, the idea of acquiring him is a fun one to toy with at the very least.