Colorado Avalanche: Celebrating Duchene's 500th Game

Oct 15, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) walks onto the ice during player introductions before the game against Dallas Stars at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene skated in his 500th game against the Florida Panthers. Here’s a brief look back at his career so far.

The Colorado Avalanche vs Florida Panthers game was number 500 for Matt Duchene. Unfortunately, the game was a 5-2 loss, but Matt Duchene did score a goal and earn an assist.

Duchene has played all 500 games with the Avalanche. He was the team’s third-overall draft pick in 2009, which was the highest Colorado had ever chosen up until that time. Recently he was named co-alternate captain of the team.

In fact, Duchene has long been considered the Colorado Avalanche’s best player, and his salary was even the one that served as the team’s internal cap. While it’s true that Nathan MacKinnon is now being groomed to take over that role, and will eventually best Duchene’s salary, Matt is still the leading scorer on the team with three goals and two assists.

Dutchy is also one of the most likable Avalanche players ever. He’s generally considered approachable, making him popular with every age level of fans. When you go to Colorado games, you see more Duchene sweaters than any other player usually.

Skating in 500 games with just one team is a great accomplishment, especially for someone so young. In fact, at 25, Matt is considered a veteran on the team because he’s been around so long. He broke into the NHL right away, so he’s been playing since he was 18 years old.

Duchene said of his relatively long tenure in the NHL:

Being around for 500 games, Matt Duchene has certainly created some memories for us to appreciate. So, in celebration of his milestone, I’d like to choose my top-three Dutchy moments. Feel free to share your own in the comments section!

Matt Duchene Draft

More from Mile High Sticking

We all love Matt Duchene’s draft story, right? If you’re a Colorado Avalanche fan, you know the details. However, let’s share it again.

Dutchy grew up as an Avs fan — those were the glory days of Avalanche history. Duchene himself was a phenomenal player, so when his draft came up, he was expected to go very high.

Colorado had the third overall pick that year. Matt was really hoping to get selected by his favorite team, but it was possible he’d go higher. The New York Islanders went first, and they selected John Tavares.

Here was crunch time for Matt Duchene. If he was still available at number three, Colorado was selecting him. However, the Tampa Bay Lightning had the second pick, and they could well choose Dutchy.

As we all know by now, Tampa chose Victor Hedman. As then GM Brian Lawton announced where their selection hailed from — Modo, not Brampton — Matt Duchene stage whispered “Yes!” to his family several times.

Now, here’s where we have a little controversy. The story goes that Matt Duchene fist bumped. He did not. He stage whispered “Yes!” until his mother whispered in his ear and his father advised him, “Don’t fist bump yet.” I’m guessing that’s where the fist bump rumor started. (If you watch the video, you see that he just claps the whole time.)

Anyway, the next part is my favorite anyway. The camera shows as he’s waiting for then Colorado Avalanche GM Greg Sherman to walk up to the stage, he starts jiggling his leg nervously. He asks in his trademark intense way, “Is Colorado coming up here, or are they just going to chill?”

Honestly, I think this moment sealed Matt Duchene’s popularity for the majority of Avs fans.

Playoff-Clinching Goal

Barring a trade, you don’t get the third-overall draft pick unless you had a really bad season the year before. That certainly was the case with the Colorado Avalanche as they finished dead last in their conference.

However, the addition of fresh blood, both from the draft and from other acquisitions, allowed them to be playoff contenders into April.

In fact, on April 6, 2010, the Canucks hosted the Avalanche. This was an important game for Colorado because they could clinch a playoff spot with a victory.

Well, the game started off with some back and forth action. At the end of three periods, the score was tied 3-3. Overtime solved nothing, so the game went to the shootout.

Then head coach Joe Sacco got daring. He put Milan Hejduk and Chris Stewart as his guaranteed shooters. But his clinch player was Matt Duchene.

And Matt Duchene clinched indeed. He was the only skater to score on the shootout, thus ensuring the Colorado Avalanche made the playoffs.

The shootout goal is a thing of beauty — as is his exuberant celebration afterward.

Jan 30, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Central Division forward Matt Duchene (9) of the Colorado Avalanche skates with the puck on his stick during the breakaway challenge in the 2016 NHL All Star Game Skills Competition at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

All Star Appearances

Matt Duchene has made two All Star appearances. He went as a youngster in 2011. He appeared in last year’s All Star weekend as well.

“Too much vodka last night” — apparently he’s actually just referring to an insider’s joke.

Anyway, in the 2016 All Star competitions, he participated in the NHL Breakaway Challenge. He didn’t win the challenge because PK Subban channeled his inner Jaromir Jagr. However, Duchene’s was the most skillful performance:

Matt Duchene is just 25 years old — he’s right in his prime as a forward. Colorado Avalanche fans should be looking forward to more top moments from his next 500 games.

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