The Pierre-Luc Dubois saga with the Winnipeg Jets appears likely to end this summer with a trade. Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic write that it appears that the young forward will submit a list of teams that he is willing to sign with long term and it will be up to the Jets to determine if any of those teams are willing to make a move. In the meantime, Dubois’ agent Pat Brisson could begin talking to those teams to setup a framework for a potential long-term extension.
While this is not an ideal situation for Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, it does give him the opportunity to have serious negotiations with teams that can plug Dubois into their lineup long term, hopefully maximizing the return for Winnipeg.
Jeff Marek acknowledged on his show today that the Montreal Canadiens are high on Dubois wish list, and The Athletic article even mentioned that the Canadiens called Winnipeg after the season ended. While there does seem to be a fit for a trade between Montreal and Winnipeg there will be plenty of other interested suitors. Players like Dubois don’t come on the market all that often and even an eight-year contract will only carry Dubois into his age 33 season, meaning that he should be very productive throughout the life on any long-term deal.
The Athletic article also mentions that Dubois is willing to be flexible depending on the situation, meaning that he will take a discount to go to a cup contender but would want his full freight if he goes to a rebuilding club.
The situation is not unlike the sign and trade of Matthew Tkachuk and the Calgary Flames last summer. Tkachuk signed his eight-year deal with Calgary and was then quickly dealt to the Florida Panthers for a large haul that was universally praised at the time. Winnipeg could maximize the return by working out a similar situation with Dubois allowing both sides to leave the relationship happy with the end result.
That list of clubs-Montreal and several clubs up against the limit to wedge WPG into a corner. Tronna Boston TBL VGK NYR will have an obscene contract proposal while MTL will have an easier cap hit. He will make millions in endorsements in PofQ.
PLD list
1. Montreal
2. Québec City if Arizona moves
3. any team in the Q
4. end of list
Would he really take a discount for the Habs though? Maybe a NMC or a bigger signing bonus.
Non french Habs fan here. Maybe he says I’ll take 8 in MTL and 12 anywhere else, that’s the only way it can really force the jets that way along with picking tight to the cap teams. The Drouin deal should have thought them being francophone isn’t everything. The deal only makes sense for me if it’s Anderson, young LD like Harris, pick 31/32 and another round roster player anything more is crazy
He’s not going to get anywhere close to 12 mil a season
Dude is a primadonna.
$12 million per?! Pass.
Thankful the Sabres locked in Tage & Cozens for around $7.1mil per each long term.
Ironic that Dubois is always involved in a “saga.” Maybe he should look in a mirror more often. Me thinks he’s impossible to please.