Pierre-Luc Dubois was traded to the Los Angeles Kings by the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday for forwards Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, and Rasmus Kupari, and a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The 25-year-old forward, who could have become a restricted free agent on July 1, then signed an eight-year, $68 million contract with Los Angeles ($8.5 million average annual value).
Dubois had NHL career highs in assists (36) and points (63) in 73 regular-season games this season, and four points (two goals, two assists) in five Stanley Cup Playoff games.
“Pierre-Luc Dubois is an elite two-way center with a unique skill set, and we’re excited to have him join the organization and commit to us long term,” Kings general manager Rob Blake said. “Over the last few seasons, he has proven the ability to contribute to all facets of the game, and we are thrilled to be able to add a player of this caliber into our lineup.”
Selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the No. 3 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, Dubois has 302 points (129 goals, 173 assists) in 434 regular-season games for the Blue Jackets and Jets, and 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 38 playoff games. He was traded to Winnipeg by Columbus on Jan. 23, 2021, for forwards Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic.
Los Angeles (47-25-10) finished third in the Pacific Division this season before losing to the Edmonton Oilers in six games in the Western Conference First Round.
Vilardi, a 23-year-old forward, is coming off his best season in the NHL, getting 41 points (23 goals, 18 assists) in 63 regular-season games and four points (two goals, two assists) in five playoff games. Selected by the Kings with the No. 11 pick of the 2017 NHL Draft, Vilardi has 78 points (41 goals, 37 assists) in 152 regular-season games.
[RELATED: 2022-23 NHL Trade Tracker]
Iafallo, a 29-year-old forward, had 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 59 regular-season games and four points (three goals, one assist) in six playoff games. He has 204 points (85 goals, 119 assists) in 420 regular-season games and nine points (five goals, four assists) in 16 postseason games since signing with the Kings as an undrafted free agent on April 19, 2017.
Kupari, a 23-year-old forward, had 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 66 regular-season games and no points in six playoff games. A first-round pick (No. 20) by the Kings in the 2018 NHL Draft, Kupari has 29 points (nine goals, 20 assists) in 130 regular-season games.
“On behalf of the entire LA Kings organization, we would like to thank Alex, Rasmus and Gabriel for their immense contributions both on and off the ice,” Kings president Luc Robitaille said. “Their efforts over the last few seasons on the ice, as well as with fans and throughout the community, have made a substantial mark on our franchise, and we wish them all continued success in their future.”
The Jets (46-33-3) qualified for the playoffs as the second wild card from the Western Conference after stumbling down the stretch, going 15-17-2 in their final 34 games after leading the conference on Jan. 22, when they were 31-16-1. Winnipeg lost in the first round in five games to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Several of the Jets’ core players can become unrestricted free agents at the end of next season, including goalie Connor Hellebuyck, forwards Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Nino Niederreiter, and defensemen Brenden Dillon and Dylan DeMelo.
“I can’t tell you what’s going to happen or what needs to happen, but I’m guessing that something is going to happen, yes,” Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers told NHL.com on May 19 at the 2023 IIHF World Championship.
The Kings previously traded defenseman Sean Durzi to the Arizona Coyotes on June 24 for a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. They also signed defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a two-year, $11.75 million contract ($5.875 million average annual value) on June 7.
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