Matt Duchene isn’t going anywhere.
The Avs will not send their prized 18-year-old rookie center back to his junior hockey team before a critical 10-game mark, his former junior coach said Sunday night.
Duchene’s junior team, the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League, reported on its website that coach Stan Butler said he was informed by the Avalanche that Duchene will not be returned to the team.
Duchene preferred not to comment until the Avs make the news official, which they had not done as of Sunday night.
That Duchene would stay seemed a foregone conclusion after his solid performance in the Avs’ first eight games, including his first NHL goal Saturday in Detroit. Under NHL bylaws, Du- chene’s first year of his pro contract will be valid once he plays 10 games with Colorado. He can still be returned to junior at any point this season, but that is highly unlikely because of his contract status and because, if he were sent back to junior, he would not be able to be recalled by the Avs the rest of the regular season.
Duchene currently is centering the Avs’ second line and seeing significant time on the power play.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
