Trade Grades: Pierre-Luc Dubois To Los Angeles

Pierre-Luc Dubois Trade Grades

Pierre-Luc Dubois is switching the freezing cold of Winnipeg for the sunshine of Los Angeles. The Kings are acquiring Dubois from the Jets for a pretty sizable package. Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada confirmed the return for Winnipeg.

I believe this is all being finalized in the near future. Pierre Luc-Dubois will be a Los Angeles King…8x$8.5M is the contract. Gabe Vilardi, Alex Iafalo, Rasmus Kupari and a second-rounder is the return.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 27, 2023

In terms of assets and money, Dubois did not come cheap. The Kings are also going to sign him to an eight-year contract worth $68 million. It’s worth noting that the deal is the exact same the Islanders gave Bo Horvat after acquiring him in February from the Canucks. He turned 28 in April while Dubois just turned 25. Let’s see how the Kings and Jets fared here.

Winnipeg Grade: A-

You might say the one thing the Jets missed out on was a first round pick, but that was gone months ago after LA acquired Vladislav Gavrikov. Still, this is a very good return for a player who may not have entirely proved he is worth it.

Gabriel Vilardi is only 23 and could blossom into a consistent top-six forward for the long haul. Alex Iafallo is 29 and will be paid $4 million for the next two seasons. Rasmus Kupari was a first-round pick in 2018 and spent a big chunk of 2022-2023 playing in the NHL. This package has the potential of paying off for Winnipeg years from now.

Los Angeles Grade: B-

I don’t love this deal for the Kings but I don’t hate it either. Dubois will probably be able to keep scoring at a decent clip for LA, especially if one of Viktor Viktor Arvidsson or Kevin Fiala are on his wing.

However, throwing a hissy-fit and asking out of two teams before turning 25 is not the greatest sign. Perhaps being in a place he truly wants to be will help him play to his potential. It’s worth noting that he was compared to his new teammate Anze Kopitar before being drafted back in 2016.

I can’t talk too much as an Islanders fan, though. Horvat was essentially a no-show in the playoffs and we’re now on the hook for eight years until he proves me otherwise. Dubois at least has the chance to develop and really take the next step as Kopitar’s successor.

This trade has a potential of working out for both sides. In five years however, I would wager that the Jets have a better shot at being happy than the Kings do.

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