Pierre-Luc Dubois has long been linked to the Canadiens, and it looks like those rumours could finally come to an end. On his 32 Thoughts podcast earlier today, Elliotte Friedman suggested that it’s almost inevitable the Quebec native would find his way to Montreal. The question is less about if at this point, but when.
Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts:
— Nathan "Grav" (@NathanGraviteh) March 27, 2023
"Jets have talked to the Canadiens on and off about Dubois, we know that Dubois is gonna end up there 95%, is there someway we can make a deal so the Canadiens get him earlier and we get something we want? They've talked about that"#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/bxqRh7766p
Dubois was first linked to the Canadiens at the 2016 draft, where Marc Bergevin was reportedly interested in trading up to nab the centre. Bergevin was willing to send P.K. Subban to Vancouver for the fifth overall pick, where they would select Dubois. But, of course, with him instead going third overall to Columbus, that trade never happened. The rumours haven’t exactly slowed down since Dubois entered the league, but maybe this saga will finally have a conclusion.
The former Blue Jacket is an RFA at the end of the season, so while the Canadiens may be the ultimate destination, the Jets don’t necessarily need to make a decision on Dubois this off-season. Though the open dialogue between Winnipeg and Montreal seems to suggest it’s only a matter of time.
We’ve heard Dubois linked to Montreal for like three years now so at this point, I’ll just wait until the Canadiens themselves tweet it out.
— Ryan Praught (@RyanPraught) March 27, 2023
Adding Dubois into the fold would be significant for the Canadiens as they continue to add firepower to their lineup. And if it really is only a matter of time, it will be interesting to see how the Canadiens bring him in. Assuming this information is accurate, it would appear as though the Canadiens hold most of the leverage, which would make it difficult for the Jets to get full value on Dubois. This means the Canadiens might be able to give up very little to acquire him, and if that is the case, the Canadiens should be all over that.
However, if the Jets choose to wait another season, Dubois will be a pending UFA, and if the Jets do move on from him, I think they’d prefer to get something for him. The Habs would obviously be the favourite to land the 24-year-old if he does hit the open market. What that trade package will look like is ultimately unclear, but it’s definitely something to monitor this off-season.
Typically, I try not to engage in rumours on social media about the Canadiens as so often they don’t come to fruition. But seeing as Dubois has been linked to the Canadiens for a very long time, and a credible source put it out there, this felt like it was worth considering. To say there’s a 95% chance of something happening implies you’d almost be shocked if it didn’t happen. We won’t know for sure until this off-season at the earliest, but this definitely feels like more and more of a formality with each passing day.
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