Teammates want to see what Dubois can do

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This article was published 08/02/2021 (1724 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PIERRE-LUC Dubois has skated only twice with the Winnipeg Jets since being acquired in a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 23.

But he’s already got his new teammates looking forward to what he can do, beginning tonight when Dubois will make his debut on the road against the Calgary Flames.

“He’s got a good shot. He’s got good vision; he’s a smart player and can skate. It couldn’t have been easy for him these last couple of days. He looks like he’s enjoying himself out there and he’s ready to go,” Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers said.

“He’s a great player. Everyone can see that in practice. It’s going to be fun to have him in the lineup. I think he’s pretty excited to get out there as well and get back to playing hockey.”

Dubois was required to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine after travelling from the U.S. Although he was able to communicate with teammates online, it wasn’t until recently that he’s had the chance to make the rounds in the dressing room to provide a more personal greeting.

Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey said Dubois has made a strong first impression. But noted he already had the respect from the team for his play on the ice with the Blue Jackets.

“We haven’t had the chance to play (Columbus) a ton over the years because we’re in different conferences but I always remember not liking playing against him, remembering how well he protects the puck down low. Obviously he’s a big guy and he’s got really good hands and puck skill around the net and down low. As a defenceman it was always a challenge to play against him,” Morrissey said. “It’s exciting to bring him in and it was nice to finally have him after the delay from the quarantine. For him, I’m sure it was nice to actually be able to come to the rink and get to know the guys and stuff like that. He has looked great in the practices and as he goes along, he’s just going to keep getting better and better. He’s got all the skills and talent and he seems like a great guy from getting to know him these last few days. Excited to have him, excited to have another elite centreman to work with as a defenceman and excited to see what he can do as he gets going with our team.”

BETTER TEAM D: In what’s been a high-scoring All-Canadian Division for much of the NHL season, the Jets have found a way to lessen the goals being scored against over the last week.

Winnipeg was averaging 3.12 goals a game through the first eight games. That number has dropped to 2.33 over the past three games, suggesting a positive shift in team defence.

“I think we’re playing as five in our own end. One of the things we wanted to focus on was having five players tighter together in our own end. That allows us, if we do create a turnover or a kill play, you have a three- or four- or five-foot pass, maybe two or three of those and you’re out of the zone, as opposed to being more spread out and having to make a 15-, 20-foot pass and then another on after that and not being in sync,” Morrissey said.

“Being connected, defensively, is vital, obviously for breaking it out, but that same thing rings true where, if someone gets beat, by a half step out of the corner, there’s a second layer right there and a third layer right there as well. You’re getting some help from your wingers in the slot and stuff like that. I think we’re just doing a better job of playing more connected and committing to trying to end it as fast as possible in our own end and get going the other way as a group of five. When we’ve done that this year, we’ve been successful. It’s still a work in progress but I think we’ve made some pretty big strides.”

BOTCHED CALL A CHANCE TO IMPROVE: Maurice was asked about the botched offside review call during Sunday’s game between the Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes.

Columbus challenged a goal by Hurricanes forward Vincent Trocheck, which came late in the second period. After a quick review, the goal was allowed to stand, despite video evidence showing that Trocheck was clearly offside.

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The NHL later blamed the chaos on an off-ice official, who happened to relay the wrong information to the on-ice referees. The challenge was later corrected, the penalty withdrawn after the fact, only the goal to still stood. Apparently the issue was too far-gone to reverse the entire decision at that point.

The Blue Jackets lost the game 6-5.

“You always have good intentions, right? And that coach’s challenge has just done way, way more good in getting it right than, than that. So they had a mistake and they fixed it, I guess, as best they could,” said Maurice.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

Every piece of reporting Jeff produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.