Dubois could be a King

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This article was published 25/06/2023 (830 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pierre-Luc Dubois had his sights set on La Belle Province. Instead, it’s starting to look like he might wind up in La La Land.

The Winnipeg Jets and Los Angeles Kings have spent the weekend in detailed talks about a blockbuster trade that would see big pieces going both ways, multiple sources tell the Free Press.

No deal had been completed as of Sunday evening, but the sides were continuing to chip away. Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was en route to Nashville, where the NHL draft will be held later this week.

Dubois, 25, would be the prize catch for the Kings. The third-overall pick from 2016 would slot in as the second-line centre, for now, behind Anze Kopitar. But a clear succession plan would be in place for when the 35-year-old future Hall of Famer eventually hangs up his skates.

Dubois had a career-high 63 points (27 goals and 36 assists) in 73 regular-season games last year with Winnipeg. A long-term extension with Los Angeles would have to be hammered out prior to the trade becoming official. Dubois is said to be seeking a salary in the range of US$9 million per year.

The proposed return package is said to include forwards Gabriel Vilardi and Alex Iafallo.

Vilardi, 23, would be the key piece for the Jets. The Kingston, Ont. product, was the 11th-overall pick in the 2017 draft and can play centre or right wing. The 6-3, 215-pounder had a career-high 41 points (23 goals, 18 assists) in 63 regular-season games last year with Los Angeles.

Vilardi, who has battled injury issues early in his career, is a restricted free agent this summer who is due for a significant raise after making US $825,000 last season. He can’t become a unrestricted free agent until 2027, so the Jets would be guaranteed at least four seasons of a player who is trending in a favourable direction.

Iafallo, 29, would give Winnipeg another reliable top-nine forward option. The undrafted left-winger from Eden, N.Y. has played six NHL seasons, all with Los Angeles. Although he’s not a massive offensive producer — his career-high is 17 goals and 43 points, set in 2019-20 — he’s consistent.

Iafallo, who stands 6-feet and weighs 200 pounds, is signed for two more seasons at US 4 million per year. He had 36 points (14 goals and 22 assists) in 59 regular-season games. He missed the other 23 with injury.

There would be some immediate familiarity for the forward. Iafallo spent four years playing college hockey at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Jets defenceman Neal Pionk was a teammate of his for the final two, in 2015-16 and 2016-17, while Jets/Moose forward Dominic Toninato was with him for all four seasons.

Sources say there could be more involved from both sides, either in the form of roster players, prospects or draft picks.

If this trade gets completed, you could file it under “making the best of a bad situation.”

Winnipeg obtained Dubois from the Columbus Blue Jackets in January 2020, believing they had found their future No. 1 centre. They were banking on it, in fact, considering they sent Finnish sniper Patrik Laine, along with throw-in Jack Roslovic, the other way.

Dubois had all the elements you’d want in a player, including size (6-2, 205 pounds), skill, speed and a surly streak (183 penalty minutes over the last two years) that also got under the skin of opponents and saw him draw about as many infractions as he took.

Dubois played 195 regular-season games with the Jets over two-and-a-half seasons and is set to leave before he truly hits his prime. For reasons not entirely made clear, the Quebec product never truly felt comfortable in Winnipeg and was not going to sign an extension.

As a potential UFA next summer, the Jets can’t afford to hold on to him much longer and risk losing a valuable asset for nothing.

The big surprise would be his ultimate landing spot. Many pundits have speculated his hometown Montreal Canadiens were his “end game,” which might have boxed Cheveldayoff into a corner when it came to negotiating a deal.

Why would Montreal GM Kent Hughes, for example, pay much of a price for a guy he could ink on July 1, 2024 without any compensation? Fortunately for Winnipeg, Dubois agreed to expand his potential horizons, providing a list of as many as six teams he’d be open to getting traded to.

This is just the first of what could be a flurry of moves from the Jets in the coming days.

Like Dubois, No. 1 goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is set to be a UFA next summer and is seeking a change of scenery. Numerous teams, including the New Jersey Devils, have been linked to recent trade rumours.

Centre Mark Scheifele could also be headed to a new hockey home, with plenty of buzz surrounding him and the Boston Bruins, among others. Of course, there’s always the possibility of a different route, with the organization and its first-ever draft pick finding common ground on a long-term extension.

There’s also the delicate case of veteran forward and former captain Blake Wheeler, who is expected to be bought out if a trade partner can’t be found.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg