Steve Varmalov
And Then....
10 Players with Major Expectations
Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche
The third overall pick in 2009 combined to score 51 times in his first two NHL seasons, but injuries limited Duchene to 14 goals in 58 games last season. There were questions about his commitment and concerns that he and coach Joe Sacco were not on the same page. Duchene signed a two-year deal worth $7 million this offseason, and the implication with the short-term deal is that it's time for Duchene to prove he's a franchise player. He's got the tools, no question, now can he get them back out of the box and propel the Avs back to the playoffs?