Everyone was pretty surprised to see the Colorado Avalanche begin their season with Matt Duchene on their roster, but perhaps no one was as surprised as Duchene himself.

Monday, Avalanche legend Peter Forsberg weighed-in on the discussion of what to do with Duchene, offering up a pretty straight forward response: trade him. Speaking on a Swedish broadcast on Saturday, Forsberg stated that it was "doubtful that [Duchene] should be allowed to play [for the Avalanche]. Here's Forsberg's full thoughts, as translated by Expressen reporter Robin Lindgren and reported in the Denver Post.

 

"Put him in the stands. If I were playing with a player that I know doesn't even want to be in the team, it's not like he is going to throw himself on the ice and block shots with his head. It is mostly difficult to have a player like that in the team, although he is skillful and is doing his best."  

 

"I would rather play with someone that wants to be there. I would put him on the bench and trade him." (Peter Forsberg, Expressen)

 

Following the Avs' 4-0 victory over the Bruins on Monday in which Duchene played 12 minutes and recorded an assist, the star centre had this to say about Forsberg's comments on his future with the team, as per Mike Chambers of the Denver Post.

 

β€œHe was a guy I idolized growing up. I still have the same admiration and respect for him as a player and a guy β€” he was a guy I looked up to a lot as a kid.”

 

"I don't think it was meant to be anything personal. He and I have a great relationship. I'm not taking it personally. I think a lot can get lost in translation."

 

 "It's unfortunate, obviously, how it's blowing up, but at the same time I still have the same admiration and respect for him as a player and a guy -- he was a guy I looked up to a lot as a kid."

(Matt Duchene -- Denver Post)

 

Despite the drama surrounding Duchene's status with the Avalanche, the young centre is still a highly sought after talent. And with the Avalanche unlikely to make the playoffs, it won't be surprising to see Duchene move before the end of the season. But then again...that's what everyone thought last year, and here we are.