Why the Canadiens’ attempt to acquire Pierre-Luc Dubois in a trade failed

Forward Pierre-Luc Dubois reportedly intends to test the 2024 unrestricted free-agent market, which might prompt the Winnipeg Jets to trade him this offseason. The forward is hoping to get moved to the Canadiens, so much so that he attended the Draft in Montreal earlier in July hoping to be traded in front of the hometown crowd.

That would have been huge, but reportedly so was the hefty price return demanded by Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. Montreal Hockey Now’s Marco D’Amico believes Nick Suzuki or Cole Caufield may have been part of Cheveldayoff’s asking price.

It is no secret that Dubois would like to play in Montreal and has expressed that desire within team circles and rumours emerged last week that a monster could come on the opening of free agency, with the Canadiens sending Christian Dvorak as part of a package for Dubois. You have to imagine the Jets would want a decent return involving perhaps a good young forward along with a first-round draft pick or a high-quality prospect.

But if Suzuki or Caufield are part of the conversation, we understand why Habs GM Kent Hughes is stepping back. Their value is too important to the rebuilding franchise.

The Canadiens have already made a significant trade this summer, shipping defenseman Alexander Romanov to the New York Islanders for the 13th overall pick, then flipped it to the Chicago Blackhawks for Kirby Dach during the draft's first round. We can understand why they are taking their time with an even bigger trade involving Dubois. 

Dubois, meanwhile, didn’t file for salary arbitration by last Sunday’s deadline as he is coming off a two-year deal worth an average annual value of $5 million with an actual cap hit last season of $6.65 million. He could seek over $7.5 million per season on a one- or two-year contract.

Now, he is eligible to receive offer sheets but it’s unlikely he’ll get one from the cap-strapped Canadiens.
For the moment, the Jets and Dubois are believed to still be in negotiations, while the forward could accept his one-year, $6-million qualifying offer from the Jets by this Friday’s deadline.

This could give the Jets more time to convince Dubois to stick around and sign a longer-term extension. Cheveldayoff will wait for an irresistible offer, and for now, it seems like the Canadiens won’t be able to put one together that is tempting enough.