Another day, another trade in the NHL that does not involve the Toronto Maple Leafs. We all knew that Pierre-Luc Dubois wanted out of Winnipeg, but it was unclear where he end up come next season.
Toronto Maple Leaf fans are aware to trade rumours involving star players (cough cough… William Nylander,) but none like the the rumours that surrounded Dubois prior to the trade being completed.
Leafs fans remember Dubois from back in the 2020 play-in round, PLD was a menace and was one of the key reasons why the Blue Jackets eliminated the Leafs in that series.
That seems so long ago based on how things have gone for Dubois. The season after that he was traded to the Jets for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic, and now he is on the move yet again.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Grading the Blockbuster Pierre-Luc Dubois Trade
Today, the Jets finalized a trade with the Los Angeles Kings that would send the 25-year-old to LA in exchange for Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari and a 2024 second-round pick.
It was a move that was going to happen either sooner or later as Dubois told Winnipeg he was not going to re-sign with them and wanted out. It was assumed that he was going to end up in Montreal, however, that is not the case.
Prior to the trade, Dubois signed a eight-year, $68 million deal., therefore making it a sign and trade.
We have acquired forwards Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, and Gabriel Vilardi and Montreal’s second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft in exchange for forward Pierre-Luc Dubois. pic.twitter.com/vOLAbeGEC1
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) June 27, 2023
But how did each team do? I am going to give my opinion by grading this blockbuster trade.
Los Angeles Kings – Grade: A
I love this deal for the Kings, and it is exactly what they need. LA has been bounced from the first-round in consecutive seasons and it is clear that they are on the rise with players like Quinton Byfield, and Arthur Kaliyev becoming full-time NHL players.
But the Kings need more to help them get out of that first round, and Dubois does exactly that. First line center’s are hard to get and I don’t think that the Kings overpaid to get him. The former third-overall-pick back in 2016 had a career year putting up 63 points in 73 games this season. Trading Vilardi is tough as he had a breakout performance with 43 points this year, but it is not the worst thing in the world.
LA managed to keep their future in tact without having to give up a ton of prospects and picks to get a star player in this league. I think Dubois will fit in perfectly with the Kings, so I give it an A.
Winnipeg Jets – Grade: A-
Look, the Jets were in a tough situation. Dubois wanted out and was not going to sign an extension with Winnipeg, but the return they got for him is pretty darn good.
Winnipeg does not want to rebuild, therefore the assets they got make sense. Vilardi will be great for them. He’s only 23 and has plenty of upside, and I think his best years are ahead of him with the Jets.
Alex Iafallo is a great depth piece to get back in this trade. In 59 games this season, Iaffalo had 36 points. He is the most experienced player at the NHL level in this trade and has recorded 30 plus points in each of his six seasons with the Kings.
Rasmus Kupari is an interesting acquisition. At 23 years of age, he has yet to really break out in the NHL, but the potential is still there. In 66 games this season, Kupari recorded only15 points, but it was only his first full season in the league.
I mentioned the potential of Kupari still being there. He is a former first-round pick back in 2018, so he could still show what he has with more of an opportunity in Winnipeg