After several months of pursuing Matt Duchene, the Columbus Blue Jackets officially lost the race when the 26-year-old was dealt to the Ottawa Senators on Sunday evening in a three-team trade that also saw Senators forward Kyle Turris traded to the Nashville Predators.
Duchene, who was representing the Avalanche in a game against the Islanders in New York at the time, was pulled from the game during the first period and was told he had been traded to the Senators. He sneakily skated off the ice behind an injured Av to shower up and make his way to Ottawa.