Some pre-draft scouting report blurbs on PLD:
The Draft Analyst:
Dubois, who plays center with aplomb, can be used in all situations regardless of how much time is on the clock, or what the scoreboard reads. He wins draws cleanly then positions himself properly immediately thereafter. Dubois does so many things exceptionally well, and playing with menace and snarl evokes memories of hockey’s heroic warriors of the 1960’s or 1970’s. A real leader with elite offensive skills and off-the-charts intangibles, Dubois comes across as the perfect specimen who we feel is less than a year away from the rigors of the NHL. Being a gym rat does have its drawbacks, however, as he seems to forget how strong he is. Dubois shows an occasional lack of discipline and has to learn how to play within the rules.
The Hockey Writers:
The career as a hockey player requires long hours of physical training, long and intensive development of specialized ,and perhaps even more importantly the vow and the mental commitment to do what is necessary to develop the body and the skillset of a hockey player. Marc-Andre Dumont, the Coach of Pierre-Luc Dubois, says that Pierre-Luc is the most professional junior player that he has ever seen. You can see the professionalism in his game. He is high-end in just about everything he does – at all parts of the ice. He can be that impact power forward on offense that can make things happen. He also can be that shutdown guy on defense to keep you in the game. The BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects is a good example of why Pierre-Luc Dubois is just a pro and can be such a dominant force on the ice.
Elite Prospects:
A phenomenal two-way power forward who thrives under pressure. He brings versatility, being able to play as a center or a winger, as well as elite skill and agility. His athleticism is exemplified in his strong skating that allows him to backcheck hard, explode up the ice in-transition, or propel himself up into hits that opponents won't soon forget. His defensive zone play is excellent; he proactively finds and takes away shooting and passing lanes, and makes it tough on opponents to pinpoint any daylight. When he is on the ice, he is uncontainable and leads the forecheck; he creates the time and space for himself to be creative with the puck and finds a way to get it to the back of the net. He makes the players around him better, serving as an example of what hard work and skill can and will be able to produce.
A similarly punishing two-way forward with size and zero deficiencies, Anze Kopitar, is the type of player Dubois will aspire to become at the next level. Pierre-Luc Dubois has the potential to develop into an elite two-way forward who excels as a positive catalyst in every facet of the roles he can play, be it the dynamic scorer, the set-up man, the intimidating power forward, or the defensive-minded shutdown guy. He is the type of player nobody likes to play against. (Curtis Joe, EP 2016)
