The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded forward Pierre-Luc Dubois and a 2022 third-round pick to the Winnipeg Jets for forwards Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic.
- Frank Seravalli: The Jets may be retaining 26 percent of Laine’s salary for this season. That would even out the cap hit of Dubois and Laine.
The 22-year old Dubois was drafted third overall in the 2016 draft by the Blue Jackets. He carries a $5 million cap hit through next season.
The 22-year old Laine was drafted second overall in the 2016 draft by the Jets. He carries a $6.75 million cap hit and will be an RFA after the season.
The 23-year old Roslovic was drafted 25th overall in the first round of the 2015 draft by the Jets. He was an RFA but signed a two-year immediately after the trade.
Elliotte Friedman: Jack Roslovic signs a two-year contract with the Blue Jackets.
- Puck Pedia: Roslovic’s new deal carries a $1.9 million salary cap hit. He’ll get $1.3 million this season and $2.5 million next season.
Renaud Lavoie: Dubois will have to spend 14 days in quarantine when he arrives in Winnipeg.
Pierre LeBrun: Dubois’ agent Pat Brisson: “Pierre-Luc is excited and looking forward to join the Jets. This could been a longer process. Happy it’s done. Looking positively ahead.”
Frank Seravalli: Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen: “Pierre-Luc has been an important part of our team the past four seasons, but this was the right time for both parties to move in a different direction.”
Stephen Whyno: Kekalainen on Laine: “Patrik is a player we know very well and in a short time has become one of our league’s most proficient goal scorers. Jack is an exciting young player with great potential and we’re thrilled to bring him home to Columbus.”
Thoughts from the media
Pierre LeBrun: “The Jackets and Jets were both in unenviable positions with star players who wanted out. From the get-go Wpg and CBJ getting together on this seemed destined but the CBJ spoke to a pile of teams before circling back in the end to Winnipeg. Like 15-20 teams to varying degrees.”
Darren Dreger: “Some perspective. PLD is an excellent addition to the Jets. Roslovic made it clear he was never playing for Winnipeg again. Laine didn’t see a future with the Jets beyond this season. This is asset management. 20+ teams expressed interest in Dubois.”
Mark Scheig: “Jarmo Kekalainen… Turned Ryan Johansen into Seth Jones. Turned Pierre-Luc Dubois into Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic. That’s some mighty fine work given circumstances surrounding each.”
Alison: “The expectation for Patrik Laine couldn’t be more clear coming to Columbus. It’s to do what he does best for a team that desperately needs it. #scoregoals ”
Matt Larkin: “Anyone else think both teams will end up having to do this same dance again with Dubois and Laine in a year? I feel like neither guy is landing in the situation he reportedly wants.”
Eric Engels: “WPG+CBJ had one thing in common: Players who wanted out. I don’t think WPG was getting a better player for Laine, and I don’t think CBJ was getting a better player for Dubois. Are they perfect fits?No. But Kekalainen got a C with upside in the deal, too. As for future, who knows?”
Brian Lawton: “The @BlueJacketsNHL did just fine. Winger for center doesn’t usually equate but in this case I believe it does as Patrick Laine is an elite talent. Just go back and watch his 1 game played this year prior to injury to see what I am talking about. ”
Jim Matheson: “Currency in trades has always been this: centres are more valuable than wingers, but for Jets sake I’m sure they’re hoping Laine doesn’t turn into another Selanne as goal-scorers go.”
Charlie O’Connor: “I question the Laine fit in Columbus, but I get why CBJ did it. I assume this was the way to get maximum raw value back for a guy who wanted out; take back another guy whose value on the market was diminished a bit because everyone knew he wanted out.”
Todd Cordell: “Centers are generally more valuable, too, and the Jets still have Ehlers, Wheeler, Connor, etc. on the wing.”
Micah Blake McCurdy: “Neither team should let themselves arrive at a place where either of the players should have been considered for trade. Both teams could have and should have adapted their styles to fit their young talent. It wouldn’t have even been that much of an adjustment for either team.”
That can change if Laine gets back to the player he was in his first two seasons and Dubois doesn’t take that next step. Roslovic hasn’t looked like much so far. pic.twitter.com/qzyclGALXi
— dom luszczyszyn (@domluszczyszyn) January 23, 2021
Here’s the interesting graph on Laine for me: his goals versus his expected goals in his career. He went from the greatest finisher of the past decade to just very good in 18-19. Did goalies figure him out? Did his shot get a little worse? Can he get back to 40 goal form? #CBJ pic.twitter.com/fu0mqVW7Md
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) January 23, 2021
Patrik Laine, traded to CBJ, is one of the league’s most unique players. He’s a lethal scorer and powerplay weapon but a very poor play-driver at both ends of the ice – especially defensively. His finishing was generational in his first 2 seasons but just great since then. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/ZTudfIFnT1
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) January 23, 2021
Pierre-Luc Dubois (to Winnipeg in return) drives 5v5 offence, shoots comfortably above average, and drives penalty differential well. Defensive flaws are non-trivial. pic.twitter.com/KndFjqNGQy
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) January 23, 2021
Pierre-Luc Dubois
Patrik Laine
Jack Roslovic