The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has signed forward Matt Duchene to a two-year contract through the 2013-14 season.

Colorado’s first-round pick (third overall) in the 2009 Entry Draft, Duchene has recorded 150 points (65g/85a) in 219 games during his three seasons with the Avalanche.  The Haliburton, Ontario native was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team and was a finalist for the Calder Trophy in 2009-10.  He followed that up by becoming the youngest player in franchise history (20 years, 84 days) to lead the team in scoring with 67 points in 80 games during the 2010-11 season.

“Matt is an important part of our team,” said Avalanche General Manager/Executive Vice President Greg Sherman.  “We are excited to come to terms with him and we look forward to seeing him at camp.”

Duchene, 21, was selected to his first NHL All-Star Game in 2010-11 and became the youngest player in franchise history to reach 100 career points, doing so at the age of 20 years, 10 days on Jan. 26, 2011.

Duchene was limited to 58 games due to injury this past season, tallying 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points.  He registered his first career hat trick and had a career-high four points (3g/1a) on Nov. 4, 2011 at Dallas.  Duchene became only the second Colorado Avalanche player to record a hat trick before his 21st birthday, joining Radim Vrbata in 2001-02.