Canadiens Link To Dubois Resurfaces Following Jets Elimination

The Montreal Canadiens have been tied to Pierre-Luc Dubois for quite some time now.

The current debate revolves around the concept of acquiring Dubois from the Jets this offseason or waiting until he’s an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Hockey Insider Elliotte Friedman once again mentioned the Canadiens and Dubois in the most recent 32 Thoughts Podcast.

“If there was any question it meant the end of this particular (Jets) core,” said Freidman, “This erases that doubt.”

Friedman was referring to head coach Rick Bowness’ short yet fiery press conference following the Jets’ early elimination by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2022-23 playoffs.

“We had no pushback. Their better players were so much better than our players tonight and it’s not even close,” said Bowness. “They were the better team this series. We gotta push back. There has to be pride, when things aren’t going our way.”

The Jets have long been rumoured to have questionable leadership, and Bowness’ comments did nothing to dispel that notion. If anything, he confirmed the team is ready for a major overhaul.

You rarely hear a coach go off on his team with such poignant comments, especially in the NHL.

Bowness’ frustration signals there are likely to be significant changes going forward.

“Pierre-Luc Dubois is fascinating to me,” said Jeff Marek “I look at the obvious target, which is the Montreal Canadiens. Although I’m led to believe there are other teams Pierre-Luc Dubois is interested in going to. But we all remember the comments at the Draft, and we know the preferred destination is Montreal. If the Jets are really going down the rebuild route, it would really move things along quickly.”

It seems that regardless of Dubois’ intentions to eventually play in Montreal, teams were still interested in acquiring his services, even if they know he won’t be part of their long-term plans.

“I was told last year there was a team that was interested in acquiring Dubois for two years. They said ‘Even if he wants to go to Montreal, we’ll take him for two years, because we think we’re close, and we’ll do it.’Their leverage in this situation isn’t great, to begin with.”

As for the potential return if the Canadiens were to make an early move, Friedman did indeed mention Kirby Dach, but the scenario that he was exploring was something suggested to him rather than something of his own invention.

“I’ve had people say to me “It’s simple, you trade Dubois to Montreal and you ask for Dach.” I think if it were that simple, it would be done already, so I don’t think it’s that simple.”

Of course, the Canadiens would be taking two steps forward and one step back by losing one of their best possession players on the team simply to ensure Dubois would be in Montreal a year earlier than planned.

Frankly, it’s a foolish suggestion when you consider how important Dach is to the roster.

Friedman admits the Jets have little to no leverage, which may eventually facilitate deals involving some of their best players.

“Once you get to this point, the leverage flips to the player,” said Friedman. “Unless these players are willing to go somewhere where they’re going to sign, you try to make the best deal you can, I think that’s what Winnipeg is going to do here.”

The Canadiens should explore the cost, there’s no doubt that’s part of performing due diligence on every trade. But the idea that a core piece needs to be removed from the roster to acquire a player who is closer to a finishing touch in a lineup than a core piece doesn’t pass the sniff test.

The Canadiens are in no rush to kickstart their rebuild. And they’re certainly in no rush to move Kirby Dach.

Kent Hughes has made it clear that slow and steady wins the rebuild race.