The Trade of the Season

For months, it was talked about that the Colorado Avalanche and the Nashville Predators were interested in swapping Matt Duchene. However, Nashville refused to give to the Avs what they wanted. On Sunday, the talks finally ended with Duchene getting traded. However, it wasn't to Nashville, as Ottawa entered the picture a few days prior to the trade getting announced. So, who gets what? Let's break it down:

• Nashville gets Kyle Turris from Ottawa. Not exactly who you thought the Predators were going to get, but this one made the most sense, as not only does Turris slot in perfectly as the second line center that Nashville craved, but also did so without breaking the bank or their defensive core (more on this later). Turris also signed to a six-year extension with an annual cap hit of $6 million, thus ensuring that they don't have to worry about whether Duchene would walk after next season.
• Ottawa was the team to end up with Duchene, and he will play immediately, as the Senators are taking on the Avalanche in Sweden this week, so he just had to change locker rooms. It's a fresh start for Duchene, who also gets the bonus of playing in his home province.
• Colorado gets a first round pick in 2018 and a third round pick in 2019 plus Andrew Hammond and Shane Bowers from Ottawa plus a second round pick in 2018 and Vladislav Kamenev and Samuel Girard from Nashville. The Avs get draft picks, which is always important, and one of those is a first round pick in 2018, which they could leverage into something else if they choose to do so. Bowers was the Senators' first round pick in 2017, and figures to be a third-line player, at best while Hammond had one great season in 2015, but has fallen off considerably since. Kamenev became a victim of the Predators' newfound depth down the middle while Girard was dealt from the Predators' perpetual position of strength, as Alexandre Carrier and Dante Fabbro are also top blue line prospects who are in the pipeline.Both could be helpful for the Avs in the near future, as Kamenev has second line center potential while Girard could be the solid two-way player that the Avs need on the blue line.

So, who won the trade? Colorado got what they wanted, and in earnest, can rebuild with prospects and players that can help. Nashville got what they wanted in a second line center plus the security of knowing they will have him for six more seasons maximum and their defensive core remains intact. Ottawa gets the impact player that they needed down the middle, though it is hard to tell how much of an upgrade Duchene is over Turris, since their numbers are closer than one thinks.