Trade talks for Avalanche forward Matt Duchene heating up, do they involve the Bruins?

With training camp quickly approaching, Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic is receiving legitimate trade offers for forward Matt Duchene, according to a league source.

“It’s for real now,” the source said.

Are the Bruins involved?


Not at this point. The Bruins have inquired, but have not made an offer for Duchene.

Don Sweeney and Sakic discussed a deal for Duchene at the deadline last season, but the asking price was too high. The Avalanche wanted defenseman Brandon Carlo, along with another prospect, but the Bruins wouldn’t take it in exchange for Duchene.

This time around, the front-runners appear to be the Blue Jackets, Hurricanes, and Penguins. The Avalanche is obviously in a rebuilding stage and wants a top defensive prospect.

“Boston has a couple (defensive prospects), but will they part with one? Who knows,” the source said.

It wouldn’t be in the Bruins’ best interest to move Carlo, or even entertain an offer for Charlie McAvoy. Both have the potential to become franchise defensemen in Boston, and Sweeney had said in the past he's not moving them. Carlo demonstrated his ability during his rookie season and played in all 82 games. McAvoy exploded onto the scene in the first-round of the playoffs and proved he can handle the pressure.

There could be a scenario that the Bruins would need to move a player after the organization comes to terms with David Pastrnak on a new deal. However, it wouldn’t be one of the Bruins’ top defensive prospects.