Senators trade Duchene to Blue Jackets for 1st-rounder, prospects

The Ottawa Senators have traded center Matt Duchene to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a protected 2019 first-round pick, a conditional 2020 first-round pick, and a pair of prospects, the team announced Friday.

Columbus also receives defenseman Julius Bergman from Ottawa.

The 2020 first-rounder will convey if Duchene, an unrestricted free agent this summer, re-signs with Columbus.

Should the Blue Jackets' 2019 pick become a top-three selection during the draft lottery, the Senators will receive Columbus' 2020 first-round pick instead. If that is the case and Duchene also re-signs, the Blue Jackets will send Ottawa their 2021 first-rounder as well.

The prospects the Senators receive are right winger Vitaly Abramov, selected in the third round in 2016, and right winger Jonathan Davidsson, a 2017 sixth-round pick currently playing in the Swedish Hockey League.

Duchene won't have to go far to link up with his new team; Columbus intends to have the center in its lineup for Friday's game in Ottawa.

No sense waiting around...plan is for Duchene to be in the Blue Jackets lineup tonight.

- Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 22, 2019

The Blue Jackets have not yet discussed the possibility of an extension with Duchene's camp, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Duchene has 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) through 50 games this season, the last of a five-year, $30-million contract he originally signed with the Colorado Avalanche.

The 28-year-old has 228 goals and 307 assists in 704 regular-season games since the Avalanche selected him No. 3 overall in 2009. The Senators acquired him in November 2017.

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