Matt Duchene 'open to' trade from Avalanche: report

Matt Duchene said he is open to being traded by the Colorado Avalanche, the Denver Post reported Wednesday.
"When I say open to it, I know it's part of the business, and it's something that might happen," the forward said. "I'm not hiding from it. I'm not running away. I'm not banging my head. I understand it's part of what we deal with as pro athletes."

Colorado (13-31-2) is last in the NHL standings, eight points behind the next-to-last Arizona Coyotes. The NHL Trade Deadline is March 1.
"I understand that at this juncture of the season, the way things are going, something may happen, something may not," Duchene said. "We'll see."
He has 15 goals and 14 assists (29 points) in 41 games, on pace for 54 points, which would be his fewest in a full NHL season since 2011-12, when he had 28 in 58 games.
Duchene has not asked to be traded, according to the newspaper.
"Where we're at, it's really hard. It's tough for everybody. Waking up in the morning, it's not the same excitement going to the rink," Duchene said. "I love to play the game, and love the game for what the game is. But at this point, it's hard. It's hard knowing where we are right now and what our future holds. It's really difficult."
Duchene, who turned 26 on Jan. 16, has two years remaining on his contract with an NHL salary-cap charge of $6 million annually.