Dubois Trade Situation Encouraging For Canadiens’ Future

Now that the dust has settled following Pierre-Luc Dubois’ visit to the Bell Centre to face the Montreal Canadiens, it’s the perfect time to evaluate the situation with an emotionless approach.

Dubois has made it clear he wants to play for the Canadiens, a nice change of pace when it comes to local players.

In the past, players at the end of their careers have expressed their desire to play at the Bell Centre, a notion that rings hollow when the same players opted to sign for other teams when the opportunity arose.

But in this case, it’s a local player in his prime, which is a rather exciting prospect.

“There’s a blazing fire here,” said Nick Kypreos, while appearing on the Tim And Friends podcast last week. “He is not staying in Winnipeg long term. There is nothing that can change his mind, from what I’m hearing.”

Pierre-Luc Dubois "is not staying in Winnipeg long-term" and is linked with the Canadiens.

Would PLD be a good fit in Montreal? @RealKyper | #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/M30UnuQHAp

— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) January 18, 2023

Dubois is currently signed to a one-year, $6 million extension, and will be a restricted free agent once his contract expires this summer.

And while it’s tempting to acquire a player in his prime, especially one with a local flavour, the question remains, should the Canadiens pay assets for a player who could be signed for free in the near future?

On the surface, it seems like a decent gamble.

At 24 years old, Dubois fits nicely with the core of players the Canadiens are counting upon to rebuild the team, and he’d immediately become one of the best players in the lineup. He’s a game-breaking presence that would provide essential scoring while playing through his statistical prime.

But if Dubois is serious about making his way to Montreal, a little patience may be in order.

By signing a short-term extension with the Jets, not only could Dubois decide his own fate once he becomes an unrestricted free agent, but it would also greatly benefit the Canadiens, who would not be forced to send precious assets to the Jets in return for Dubois’ rights.

It would also give them a longer grace period to develop their current young core of players, which should, by all logic, lead to yet another solid draft pick in 2024.

Of course, there are plenty of factors to consider, and there’s no guarantee Dubois’ interest in playing for Montreal is limitless.

But given the current situation, betting on his long-term interest could play out perfectly for Kent Hughes and Co.

At the very least, the idea that a local player in his prime is excited about the possibility of playing for the Canadiens is nothing short of encouraging for a franchise that has struggled to attract high-end talent in the past.