Western Conference Hottie: Matt Duchene (Colorado Avalanche)

IMPORTANT HOCKEY STUFF: Duchene grew up playing minor hockey for the OMHA's Central Ontario Wolves (Lindsay, Ontario) of the Eastern AAA League. He also spent his early hockey years playing for his hometown Haliburton Huskies before moving up to the AAA level.

Duchene started playing junior in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 07/08, and recorded 30 goals and 50 points in his rookie campaign. The following season, he improved to 79 points in 57 games, then added 26 points in the post-season, helping the Battalion to the J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals, where they were defeated by eventual Memorial Cup champions, the Windsor Spitfires.

Going into the 2009 Draft, Duchene was ranked second overall among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, behind just John Tavares. After Tavares and Hedman were picked first and second, Duchene was selected third overall by the Colorado Avalanche. Growing up as an Avalanche fan, Duchene quickly became a fan favourite after video footage showed him pumping his fist after Hedman was selected second overall to the Tampa Bay Lightning, sealing his fate as an Avalanche draftee. Having played alongside Vancouver Canucks prospect Cody Hodgson, who had been selected tenth overall the previous year, in Brampton, Duchene sought draft advice from him over the course of the season. Duchene has drawn comparisons to such retired NHLers as Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic, as well as current star Mike Richards.

Duchene notched his first career NHL point in his Avalanche debut on October 1, 2009, against the San Jose Sharks with an assist on a powerplay goal by defenseman John-Michael Liles. His first goal came later that month on October 17 against Chris Osgood in a 4–3 shootout win against the Detroit Red Wings. It was announced the next day that Duchene would spend the entire season with the Avalanche.

On November 30, 2009, he compiled his first two-goal NHL game in a 3–0 shutout victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The next game, against the Florida Panthers on December 2, 2009, Duchene tallied his second two-goal game and first three-point game of his career, scoring twice against Florida's Scott Clemmensen and assisting on a goal by Chris Stewart in a 6–5 shootout loss. It marked the first time that an 18-year-old recorded back-to-back two-goal games in the NHL since Radek Dvorak did it with Florida in November 1995. Duchene was subsequently selected as the NHL rookie of the month for December 2009, scoring five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 14 games.

On April 6, 2010, the Avalanche had the opportunity to clinch a playoff berth with a victory against the Vancouver Canucks. Tied 3–3 after overtime, Duchene scored the game winning shootout goal against Roberto Luongo to send the Avalanche into the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Duchene finished his rookie NHL season third on the Avalanche in scoring with 55 points, and second in goals with 24. Among NHL rookies, he finished first in points, ahead of John Tavares by one, and tied with Tavares for first in goals. Duchene added three assists in six playoff games as the Avalanche were eliminated by the San Jose Sharks in the opening round

REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF: If you've got a soft spot for baby faces, he's your man. If you just got a thing for cute and a great smile. He's just the thing to spice up the errant daydream, that we're all guilty of at work, school, whatever. (and yes, I know that you all do the same thing at work I do, and that's let your mind wander.) I mean, you can start thinking about those hands, or the sweet little mischievous smile, or the pretty chocolaty velvet brown eyes... Just the type of guy, that every one of us would want to walk into our work-place, classroom, where ever you're looking to escape from, and whisk you away to a secluded cabin in the majestic Rocky Mountains. Of course it would be in winter, and the cabin would over look a frozen lake, and of course the two of you would just have to go skate on said lake which would lead to... well... I'll let your own imaginations take it from there, I'm sure you can come up with much better scenarios. Right ladies.

Here's The Aves video "Matt Duchene, In his own words".

And for your continued viewing pleasure, here's a "one on one" video. (I ask that you keep the jealous glares at that chick to a minimum, we don't want any frying monitors, we all have to watch our keyboards close enough for possible electrocution. From errant drool.) and it's not like Crosby's the only one. Check out what Duchene's roommate situation is. Unfortunately, "he's a slob".

Please watch those puddles of drool ladies, we don't want any slip and fall accidents at work or school, and those drool puddles are slippery.