Dubois returns to Columbus with mixed play in Winnipeg
Their names were called as the second and third picks in the 2016 NHL draft.
Patrik Laine was selected second by the Winnipeg Jets, Pierre-luc Dubois went third to the Blue Jackets and the most notable thing about it — until last season — was the amount of criticism sent toward general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and his Columbus scouting staff. Dubois wasn’t supposed to be taken that high, according to most draft analysts, and Kekalainen’s decision to take him over Finnish star Jesse Puljujarvi sent shockwaves across the hockey landscape.
The way it shook out was vindication for Kekalainen, who enjoyed watching Dubois develop into the Jackets' No. 1 center. But last season changed the narrative. Dubois requested a trade, forced one with a lackadaisical start and now is linked directly to Laine and Blue Jackets forward Jack Roslovic, the pieces Columbus acquired in the deal.
None of them faced their former teams last season, but that's about to change Wednesday with Dubois' return to Nationwide Arena.
Here's a look back at one of the biggest trades in franchise history:
What prompted the Dubois-laine trade?
It wasn't made for just one reason, but Dubois' last shift as a Blue Jacket is what ultimately led to Kekalainen finishing the deal. Dubois was benched after appearing to not give much effort in a shift against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 21 in Columbus.
Dubois took his time leaving the ice with 4:36 left in the opening period, after a dreadful shift, and former coach John Tortorella had seen enough. He sat Dubois on the bench the rest of the game, drawing national attention, and stoked the flames of trade rumors that initially began the day Dubois agreed to a contract extension.
He signed days before training camp began, which meant the Jackets started last season under a cloud of uncertainty. Laine had also expressed interest in finding a new team through a trade, unhappy with his role in Winnipeg, and Roslovic never reported to the Jets' training camp while unsigned as a restricted free agent.
Dubois going to Winnipeg for Laine seemed like a perfect match and the teams made it happen two days after Dubois' last game with the Jackets. Roslovic being included was a surprise, but the Jets got a 2022 third-round pick for including him.
How did the Laine/roslovic for Dubois trade work out last season?
Not great.
Laine and Dubois struggled with their new teams, causing fans in both cities to stew about it. Roslovic set career-high offensive numbers for the Jackets, his “hometown” team, but helping Laine rebound this season was the biggest concern for the Blue Jackets heading into this season.
He set career-low marks with 12 goals, 12 assists, 24 points and a startling minus-28 plus/minus rating and often appeared to be disinterested during games. Dubois went to Winnipeg with a lingering lower-body issue and also had to quarantine for a longer time while playing in a Canadian market.
Shifted to the wing, Dubois finished with just 9 goals, 12 assists and 21 points in 46 games and was tagged with a minus-8 rating. Roslovic struggled in the defensive zone, but matched or exceed career-bests in goals (12), assists (22) and points (34).
How are Dubois, Laine and Roslovic doing now?
This season is largely been the inverse of 2020-21. Dubois and Laine came to their respective training camps intent on proving their talents hadn't diminished and both got off to great starts before Laine went down Nov. 3 with an oblique strain.
Roslovic, meanwhile, was still looking for his first goal going into Monday's in Buffalo and had only four assists in the season's first 16 games. He also dropped into a bottom-six center role after staying in the Jackets' top six last season.
Lainehad only three goals in the Jackets' first nine games prior to his injury. He also had seven assists for 10 points and increased his intensity away from the puck immensely. The Jackets would love to have him back soon.
Dubois, who's wearing No. 80 this season to honor fallen Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks, has a 10-6-16 scoring line in the Jets' first 17 games and is red hot to start the campaign. bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedger