Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr.

Yesterday, Matt Duchene announced that he was signed to a contract by Frolunda in the Swedish Elite League. Today, Gabriel Landeskog made a similar announcement, saying that he has been signed to a deal with Djugarden of the Swedish Elite League. (Landeskog played with Djugarden before he decided to come over to North America and play in the OHL.)

While there is always the concern of injury, I really think this is the best move for these two players. As much as it hurts to see them wearing jerseys other than those of the Avalanche, these are young players. They will not benefit from sitting around,  working out, and practice. They need game situations to improve their skills, and if the NHL won’t provide them with games to play in, they will search elsewhere. I think this is especially good for Duchene, due to the fact he spent all summer working out very hard in order to have a redemption season. He really needs to get going and start proving to himself that all his hard work has paid off.

Each player has signed a contract that will allow them to return to the NHL once a resolution has been signed between the NHL and the NHLPA. Also, Gabriel Landeskog, ever witty, tweeted to Matt Duchene that he should have to do all of his interviews in Swedish, because Landeskog has to conduct all of his interviews in North America  in English.