The Matt Duchene derby is underway.

Duchene had a meeting with the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

The pending unrestricted free-agent center is expected to visit with the Nashville Predators on Thursday, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.

He'll be one of the most coveted players on the market, along with his Columbus Blue Jackets teammates Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky.

Duchene posted a point per game in the playoffs after collecting 12 over 23 regular-season contests with the Blue Jackets, the team that landed him from the Ottawa Senators before February's trade deadline.

The 28-year-old totaled 31 goals and 70 points across 73 games during the 2018-19 season.

He's coming off the final campaign of a five-year, $30-million pact inked while a member of the Colorado Avalanche in summer 2013.