Avs F Matt Duchene 2013
Matt Duchene is entering the final year of a two-year, $7 million deal. (Denver Post file)

It hasn't happened yet, but it should soon. And it deserves to happen.

Matt Duchene is likely to sign a long-term extension with the Avalanche. We'll see for how long and how much money, but the Avs have been quietly working on getting it done.

He is entering the final year of a two-year, $7 million deal, meaning his salary-cap hit right now of $3.5 million is less than a kid who has yet to play a game in the league (Nathan MacKinnon, $3.775 million).

That's also less than Ryan O'Reilly ($5 million) and Paul Stastny ($6.6 million). It's also less than P.A. Parenteau ($4 million) and Erik Johnson ($3.75 million).

But let's face it: Duchene was the team's best player last year. He showed his loyalty to the team by taking a hometown discount on his deal, then went out and had a great year. It's time to reward him.

But forget about any gestures of appreciation. The Avs need to lock up Duchene for the long term because it would make good business sense. If the Avs can buy into some of Duchene's first years of unrestricted free-agent status, they'd save in the long run. Giving him a long-term deal now would take care of any worries he might leave when he's first eligible for UFA.

It also would eliminate the possibility that what happened with O'Reilly could happen with him. The Avs learned the hard way in letting a talented restricted free agent dangle too long on the open market when Calgary made a predatory offer to O'Reilly.


Duchene wants to be an Av for life. While that never can be promised at such a young, the Avs can and likely will keep him around for a long time.

Duchene really impressed the Avs' brass with his physical transformation last summer and through the fall during the lockout, coming into training camp in top shape. His season's performance reflected all the hard work he put in.

Now, it's time to reward him.

Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360, adater@denverpost.com or twitter.com/adater
