The Winnipeg Jets have traded forward Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Los Angeles Kings.
Let the housecleaning begin.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, who was acquired three years ago in a blockbuster trade from Columbus in exchange for Patrik Laine and Jack Rosolovic, is no longer a member of the Winnipeg Jets.
Officially a sign-and-trade, the Jets inked Dubois to an eight-year, $68-million contract before shipping him to Los Angeles in exchange for a package that includes forwards Gabe Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari, as well as a 2024 second-round pick (originally from Montreal).
By signing Dubois to a maximum-term deal that carried an $8.5-million cap hit, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was able to reap a sizeable return.
The question is what comes next in what is expected to be a very busy summer for the Jets. Based on what Cheveldayoff was able to get in exchange for Dubois, who made no secret in wanting a change of scenery, Jets fans have to be happy with the direction the team is headed.
The 25-year-old Dubois had made it abundantly clear that he did not have any interest in re-signing on a long-term deal with the Jets. The one-year offer signed last summer was an indicator of his feelings. This time around, Jets management made the decision to send him packing.
A product of Ste-Agathe-Des-Monts, Quebec, Dubois has shown his desire to play for the Montreal Canadiens. He will now have to wait a bit longer to make that dream a reality.
Scoring 27 goals and 63 points for Winnipeg last year, the chippy centre also remained involved in the physicality, leading all Jets players with 77 penalty minutes.
His lack of commitment to the franchise, however, will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of Jets fans, considering he was the major return in the Laine and Roslovic deal.
The central piece coming to Winnipeg is Vilardi, an 11th-overall pick in 2017 who turns 24 in August, along with 23-year-old Kupari, a 20th-overall pick in 2018, and 29-year-old Iafallo. It's got the potential to be quite the haul.
Vilardi is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound centre, who put up 23 goals and 41 points in 63 games for the Kings last season. He has 41 goals and 78 points to his name through 152 NHL contests through parts of four seasons. The Kingston, Ont., product, who is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights, has an additional two goals and four points in seven post-season games with Los Angeles.
Kupari put up 15 points in 66 NHL games, but is also an RFA without arbitration rights. Iafallo, meanwhile, had 14 goals and 36 points in 59 games.