Matt Duchene deal fell apart and he is pissed

The New York Islanders were in trade talks with the Colorado Avalanche for Matt Duchene. The Islanders were offering defenseman Travis Hamonic and their 2018 first-round pick.

Arthur Staple reported:

Snow had an offer out to the Avalanche, with Hamonic and the Islanders’ 2018 first-round pick as part of a package for Matt Duchene, while at the same time shopping Hamonic to defense-hungry teams such as the Flames and Maple Leafs for an asking price of two first-round picks. Those were two very different paths Snow was staring down.

Avalanche GM Joe Sakic balked at a Duchene move, as he has for months. The Flames and Leafs balked at Snow’s asking price as Friday night’s first round unfolded, with Toronto reportedly offering a package that included forward James van Riemsdyk and a 2018 first-round pick.

But Snow went exclusively with futures to keep that cap space open — the Islanders have roughly $9 million in space right now, with restricted free agent Calvin de Haan needing a new deal — and keep the Isles’ options open should Duchene not be moved elsewhere. 

Two league sources said Pat Brisson, Duchene’s agent (also the agent for John Tavares), is seriously unhappy with Sakic’s foot-dragging on a deal. That could lead to a reduced price tag later on should Snow still be interested.

Besides pissing off Duchene's agent, Sakic's reluctance to pull the trigger on a Duchene deal could leave the Avalanche with a reduced return.