The Blue Jackets and Jets had great success exchanging disgruntled stars while wing Patrik Laine was on his way to Columbus while center Pierre-Luc Dubois ended up in Winnipeg.
Forward Jack Roslovic, a Columbus resident, is also heading to the Blue Jackets as part of the deal. Columbus sends Winnipeg his third pick in the third round in 2022.
Dubois, 22, signed a two-year, $ 10 million contract extension before the training camp, although sources confirmed to ESPN that he also told management during the negotiations that he wanted to trade. Columbus, GM Jarmo Kekalainen, did not want to move Dubois – the number 3 pick of the 2016 draft – and preferred to wait until he could get the best return. However, the situation escalated with John Tortorella coach Blue Jackets placing Dubois on Thursday after the first period.
“He did not give a reason why he wanted to leave,” Tortorella told 97.1 The Fan last week. “He has to get it over with. That’s the way I think you have to go and be the best team you can be. ‘
Laine, who was selected second on the 2016 draft, has been a rumored trade candidate since his agent told TSN that out-of-season it would be a mutual benefit for both parties to get a fresh start.
“I’m here, I’m not,” Laine told reporters before the season, dismissing the request.
The 22-year-old Finnish winger scored 28 goals and a career-high 35 assists over 68 games in 2019-’20 and in his first match of 2020-’21 two goals and an assist.
Since his debut in 2016-’17, only eight players (Alex Ovechkin, Auston Matthews, David Pastrnak, Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, John Tavares and Patrick Kane) have scored more goals than Laine’s 140.
“We have had a priority to strengthen our appointment offensively and the addition of Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic only achieves that,” Kekalainen said in a statement. “Patrik is a player we know very well and in a short time has become one of our league’s most skilled goal scorers. Jack is an exciting young player with great potential and we are delighted to have him as a Blue Jacket in Columbus. to bring home. “
Laine is currently in an injured reserve with a torso injury. He is in the final year of a two-year bridge deal that earns him $ 6.75 million annually. According to the team, the Jets will retain 26% of Laine’s salary.
The Blue Jackets have announced that they have reached a two-year, $ 3.8 million contract with Roslovic through the 2021-22 season.
According to Canada’s quarantine rules, Dubois will have to stay in isolation for 14 days and miss a minimum of seven matches. Dubois has 66 goals and 93 shots for 159 points in 239 professional games.