THN.com/podcast. From The Hockey News Podcast: Kings' Luc Robitaille on Kopitar, Jerseys and More Pierre-Luc Dubois [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk4OTE5NjcxMzg5MzY2MDIz/usatsi_19425007.jpg] Pierre-Luc Dubois One of hockey's longest sagas is finally over. The Winnipeg Jets traded skilled center Pierre-Luc Dubois [https://puckpedia.com/player/pierre-luc-dubois] to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday in exchange for forwards Gabriel Vilardi [https://puckpedia.com/player/gabriel-vilardi], Rasmus Kupari [https://puckpedia.com/player/rasmus-kupari], Alex Iafallo [https://puckpedia.com/player/alex-iafallo] and a 2024 second-round draft pick. The trade also includes a massive extension, with Dubois signing for eight years at an average annual value of $8.5 million. Dubois' desire to leave Winnipeg has been hockey's worst-kept secret for the past two years. The 25-year-old has muscled his way out of situations throughout his young career, forcing the Columbus Blue Jackets to deal him to the Jets five games into the 2021 season. Two years later, Dubois has now successfully orchestrated an escape from his original escape plan, bidding farewell to the Jets after 195 games spread across three seasons that featured 63 goals and 80 assists for 143 points. Heading to Los Angeles, Dubois will now join a center group that features Anze Kopitar and Philip Danault, giving the Kings one of the most daunting trios down the middle in the NHL. Shedding such a large number of young and productive assets, though, is a steep price to pay. Vilardi finally broke through as a big-league forward in 2022-23 after being taken 11th overall back in 2017, racking up 23 goals and 18 assists for 41 points in 63 games. Iafallo had a similarly productive season of his own with 36 points in 59 games, while the 22-year-old Kupari continued to find his footing in his second full NHL season with 15 points in 66 games. Both Kupari and Vilardi are pending RFAs in need of new deals. But, given the money Dubois just signed for, it's unlikely that their combined annual salary would have even come close to matching his. It's a massive swing for a Kings club that has now fully shifted into win-now mode.
