Matt Duchene’s “I wanted to play playoff hockey” remarks didn’t age well

It’s never fun to drag up old comments to make athletes look silly, but in Matt Duchene’s case, yikes.

The Ottawa Senators forward was dealt earlier this season after requesting a trade from the Colorado Avalanche. After the Avs struggled in 2016-17, Duchene wanted the chance to play playoff hockey elsewhere – which is why he wanted to be dealt. (H/T theScore)

“I wanted to play playoff hockey” he explained, per Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia. “I’ve got eight playoff games to my name right now and that’s not where I want to be at this point of my career. I only get one shot at this. I get to play this game for however long my body lets me play it and I felt I wanted to let Joe know it was time to move on.”

Unfortunately, the request backfired tremendously.

Ottawa finished with the third-worst record in the East, winning just 28 games. Meanwhile, the team Duchene wanted to part with so he could get a better chance at winning sneaked into the eight-seed and will face the Nashville Predators in the first-round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Of course, there are more factors than just winning at play for Duchene requesting a trade, but, considering how big of a deal he made it and the fact the Senators were abysmal while the Avalanche surprised must hurt.

Who knows? Maybe the Senators will be playoff bound next season? Eh, I doubt it.