from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet,

- When Arizona received three potentially high draft picks for Martin Hanzal and Ryan White, Colorado dug in, even more determined to hold strong on its high price for Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog. It’s tough to tell at this time if anyone even came close, but the Avalanche certainly did not budge. It’s probably the right decision. The market for both players will be higher after the season, especially when a team or two (or more) falls short and some owner gets impatient. The Ryan O’Reilly trade looms large over the Avalanche. That one did not work out, and the organization is determined not to get a better return.

If Duchene was eligible for an extension and the Carolina Hurricanes believed they could get it done, my best guess is he’d be there. But the Hurricanes weren’t paying the price for a two-year gamble.

The next move in this saga might be Duchene’s. He looks tired, worn down by the constant questions and speculation. It wouldn’t be a stunner if he asks the Avalanche to move him after the season....

- Calgary inquired on Marc-Andre Fleury a few weeks ago, but I don’t think it was anywhere near close. For one thing, getting him to go there might take an off-season trip, because it’s somewhere he’s unfamiliar with. Second, I don’t see the match on an in-season trade. I take Jim Rutherford at face value when he says his preference was to keep Fleury as Matt Murray.

- Kelly Hrudey went on a passionate rant Wednesday about how much he hates the trade deadline — and the coverage of it — because it’s so nerve-wracking for players. One player sent a text praying he was not part of a certain deal because he dreaded leaving a great situation. It came out of nowhere and he was clearly shaken. The good news is he wasn’t moved. But it is an excellent reminder of what Kelly was talking about.

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