On Saturday morning, more earth-shattering news hit the hockey community. Star forward of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Pierre-Luc Dubois was traded to the Winnipeg Jets for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic. Dubois requested a trade out of Columbus before the season started earlier this month when contract negotiations ended in a 2-year extension worth $5 million.
On Thursday night, Columbus lost in OT to Tampa Bay. Dubois played less than four minutes which is far less than his average of 17 minutes per game. Coach John Tortella and GM, Jarmo Kekäläinen have noticed a severe decline in motivation from Dubois. This goes as far as giving up the puck on a clear breakaway and in corner battles.
“I definitely have to be better,” Dubois told reporters on Friday.
Tortella had very little to say about his disgruntled centerman. He stated Pierre’s performance had “eroded,” thus the benching.
Patrick Laine and Jack Roslovic had also requested trades out of Winnipeg. Laine was on the final year of his contract and Roslovic hadn’t reported to camp or practices of any kind. Laine scored 140 goals in 306 games but needs some improvement in the defensive zone.
Pierre-Luc Dubois now joins a team that is close to his family. He was born and raised in Quebec Canada and his father is an assistant coach for the Jets’ AHL affiliate team, the Manitoba Moose.
General managers from both hockey clubs have said they think this move is better for not only the players individually but their teams as well.
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