Pierre-Luc Dubois is a step closer to becoming a Canadien!

The trade deadline might be behind us, but it hasn’t stopped the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens from discussing a trade that has been a hot topic in the rumours circle for the past season.

Last summer, the chatter on forward Pierre-Luc Dubois wanting out of Winnipeg to be traded to Montreal emerged when his agent Pat Brisson suggested his client might one day like to join the Habs.

While Dubois signs a a one-year, $6-million contract with the Jets then, and is scheduled to become a pending restricted free agent on July 1 with arbitration rights, he appears to be a step closer to becoming a Canadien.

Earlier this season, Brisson commented his client’s contract saying Dubois wouldn’t sign beyond two years in Winnipeg and that Montreal is “a city he would like to play in”. Last week, insider Pierre LeBrun speculated this could be headed toward a trade unless Dubois signs a long-term deal with the Jets. But Brisson made it pretty clear already an extension is unlikely.

We can assume the Jets won’t want to lose Dubois for nothing and a move could take place early in the offseason between Winnipeg and Montreal. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes that’s when it will take place as he maintains the Jets and Canadiens occasionally discussed Dubois during this season.

The Jets might be in great position for a playoff run this season, there is a sense, especially when the forward came back to Montreal in January to announce that he was relaunching his takeover of Vincent Lecavalier’s charity, which helped fund hockey for underprivileged kids, that he wants a future in Montreal. It’s been reported that Jets’ success have had little impact on Dubois or his desire to stay in Winnipeg, and the move to Montreal is becoming more and more obvious.

It’s well-known that the Canadiens tried to acquire Dubois when he was in Columbus and had asked to be traded in January of 2021. The former Blue Jackets third-overall pick eventually went to the Jets in return for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic.
Now Habs GM Kent Hughes could dangle the 2023 first-round pick he acquired from the Florida Panthers or draw from his deep pool of promising young players to make an offer the Jets won’t be able to refuse.

Per Cap Friendly, the Canadiens have $72.9 million invested in 17 roster players next season with rising star Cole Caufield to re-sign. With goalie Carey Price expected to remain on LTIR, the Habs should get another $10.5 million. That would provide Hughes with sufficient room to acquire Dubois and re-sign him to a long-term contract worth around $8.5 million annually, while giving him enough room for a hefty extension for Caufield.

Dubois would be such a key piece in the Habs’ rebuild. And it might just be a matter of time now for Dubois to wear the Canadiens’ uniform…

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