Former Avalanche star makes a bold statement regarding his future in the NHL
Photo credit: Smiley N. Pool / The Dallas Morning News
Matt Duchene, who spent this past season with the Dallas Stars, recently expressed a strong desire to remain with the team.
Set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, Duchene has made it clear that he's interested in extending his time in Dallas.
Former Avalanche star makes a bold statement regarding his future.
According to a recent article on MSN.com, Duchene shared in a recent interview that his time with the Stars helped him form close bonds with his teammates, making the experience especially meaningful. He also emphasized that, with a young family and growing responsibilities, he's now prioritizing stability in his career.
"Matt Duchene, who had signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Stars, is soon about to become an unrestricted free agent with the season ending. He had signed a one-year contract worth $3 million with the Stars back in July 2024. For the season, he appeared in 18 games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and boasts a total of 82 points, with 30 goals and 52 assists." -MSN.com
As he approaches free agency, Duchene's comments suggest he's hopeful for a return to Dallas, a place where both his personal and professional lives feel aligned.
"I'd love to stay here and make it work. I'm in a little different place maybe this year than I was last year looking at things. I believe in this group and I want to be here. I know how close we are.» -Duchene
Duchene also commented on the Stars losing the Western Conference Finals to the Edmonton Oilers in heartbreaking fashion.
"It was hard waking up [Friday], hard going to bed the night before. I get random feelings just sick to my stomach walking around right now. You know the opportunity you have, and as you get older and you go a lot of years without making the playoffs or losing out, you know you've got a lot more behind you than ahead of you. You appreciate it more and it hurts more. It hurts a lot more.» -Duchene
Dallas would be thrilled to retain him, as Duchene has meshed seamlessly with the team. However, he recognizes the business side of the sport and plans to stay patient as the offseason unfolds.
"If I end up somewhere else, it would be hard. I'm a relationship person. That's who I am. I've made a lot of great relationships here with the guys. I think at this point as a family, my kids are getting to the point where you're looking for some stability, so one-year deals are tough." -Duchene
Like any veteran, Duchene is seeking some stability as he navigates the later stages of his career. Whether that will come in the form of a new deal with the Stars or elsewhere remains to be seen, but it seems that he would like to play out the rest of his NHL career in Dallas.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 13 | 31 ANSWERS Former Avalanche star makes a bold statement regarding his future in the NHL Do you think Matt Duchene re-signs with the Dallas Stars this offseason? | ||
| yes | 21 | 67.7 % |
| no | 10 | 32.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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