The Stars provide fans with unique insight into Matt Duchene’s NHL journey.
DALLAS - Newcomer Matt Duchene has quickly become a fan favorite in North Texas.
His shootout winner in Thursday night’s home opener against the Blues was a special moment that hopefully was a sign of even bigger things on the horizon in the coming months.
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Duchene, who signed a one-year contract in July, is the subject of the Stars’ newly-released episode of “The Franchise” - a documentary-style series that delves primarily into the lives of players and team personnel.
The episode on Duchene covers a range of subjects, including his childhood in Haliburton, ON, his tenure with the OHL’s Brampton Battalion, being drafted by and playing for the Avalanche, representing Canada in the 2014 Winter Olympics, his standout season with the Predators in 2021-22, and finally his decision to pursue his career in Dallas.
“Fortunately enough for me, I’ve played long enough that the money side of things wasn’t really a consideration,” said Duchene, who is earning $3 million dollars this season. “It was more about going somewhere where I felt like was a really good fit for me and a team that has been really competitive.”
Enter head coach Pete DeBoer’s contingent, which came within just two victories of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals this past summer before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights.
“He wanted to be here, and frankly took less to be here and to join our group,” said DeBoer. “That shows you how badly he wants to win and how badly he wants to be a Dallas Star.”
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With 977 games of NHL experience on his resume, Duchene knows a good squad with outstanding potential when he sees one, and the opportunity with Dallas was far too good to pass up.
He senses that this edition of the Stars is destined to achieve something special.
“You can feel the focus in this locker room and amongst the guys and how bad guys want it,” mentioned Duchene. “I love that because I’m right in the same boat.”
Like Duchene, fellow veteran Joe Pavelski is seeking his first Stanley Cup as well.
And it’s no surprise that he welcomed the addition with open arms.
“I’m excited for Duchene coming in here. When you play against a guy, you definitely have some respect for their skills and their talent level. You can tell he’s hungry and he’s passionate about the game,” explained Pavelski. “Those things all add up.”
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