Confirmed Trade: [LAK/WPG] Pierre-Luc Dubois (signs 8 years, $8.5M AAV) for Gabe Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, 2024 2nd round pick

[bert]

I think anyway you slice it Jets win this trade:
Vilardi - has had injury issues but I think a change of scenery and more ice time will only help him.
Iaffalo - great player to have for the pkauoffs.
Kupari - I don’t love him but he gives Jets even more depth.
2nd - just adds to the overpayment in this trade by LA.

Dubois - to me he is one of the most overrated players in the league. I think Vilardi alone is going to match his production very soon.

Just shows you don't actually value physical play. Or don't watch the games. Classic hf response. Or the ability to be healthy.

 

[BringTheReign]

Vegas paid less in their package for Jack Eichel and Eichel is a far superior player than PLD. Just shows that Eichels contract at 10M per isn't as bad as many think when you compare it to PLD's new contract.

They did pay more for Eichel though. It’s a similar framework, but Buffalo got an extra 1st. Even if you compare Iafallo to Krebs directly rather than versus Kupari as center/wing prospects, the Eichel package is still more than the Dubois package.

Tuch > Vilardi
1st ‘22 > Iafallo
Krebs >> Kupari
‘23 2nd >= ‘24 2nd

The year they made the Eichel trade, people were saying Buffalo won it. They said similar things about Eichel not being dedicated and that he couldn’t reach the next level. They aren’t saying that anymore. It’s a win-win now it seems, but Vegas still undeniably got the best player. I’m not saying Dubois is Eichel (he isn’t which is why the package and AAV are less), but there sure is a pattern to the discourse. We heard similar things about Carter, O’Reilly, and the list goes on.

 

[lomiller1]

I'm higher on Kupari than most Kings fans, and I predict he'll do well as a bottom 6er in the 'Peg. Change of scenery and a different voice in his ear will help. Kings botched his development. I think he can top out as someone you can build a 4th line around or be an integral part of a good 3rd line.

I'm not convinced Kupari will be a marked upgrade on Axel Jonsson-Fjällby, they seem similar in a lot of ways.

 

[heilongjetsfan]

If that is the case and he brings his expected 60-75 points along with a good compete level, then the trade is far from lopsided, of course depending on how Vilardi develops and who the Jets take with the 2nd.

But for people to use the inclusion of Iafallo and Kupari to push some fleecing narrative is honestly comical and misguided. I'm sitting here trying to comprehend how those 2 players make the trade lopsided. Not as a troll, not because I'm trying to defend anything, but because I've watched those players so much.

I actually think he's going to do really well in LA. A lot of people have failed to notice he was on pace for 85ish points with 41 in 38gp (I only know this because I stumbled across a pre-game report while trying to get my open tabs under control last week)

You could say he came back to earth in the 2nd half, but the whole team went to crap at that time, falling out of 1st in the West at Christmas to finally clinching 8th in the last days of the season.

I think he could go 90+ at least once or twice in his career and I bet he'll consistently hit 70 for the duration of the contract.

I'm also very very high on Vilardi and have been since the week before his draft where I used the power of YouTube to basically become an expert on the draft class.

 

[Martyros]

Can't wait to see PLD float around and the kings board talk about this trade for eternity, negatively.

I really hope we're proven wrong.

 

[Guardian17]

 

[ktownhockey]

Another person who didn't watch him last year. Dude has some of the best hands and hockey IQ in the game. Only knock is really his skating. He was also great defensively. I looked at both Vilardi and Dubois last year and I don't see Dubois as this much better player. Any real hockey fan will be able to recognize how good Vilardi was this past year.

You are correct with your analysis. I had the pleasure of being Gabe's head coach in AAA for two seasons. He is a hockey savant, unreal IQ and hands. Was always top of his age group in Ontario. Injuries have been the issue with his development and that started in his 15 year old year. That being said, it looks like he has figured it out. I think if he gets consistent PP1 time he could be a 70-75 point player as early as next season. He is awesome at stripping pucks off players as well. Good add for the Jets. Wish him the best of luck in Jets land.

 

[EastVillageBlues]

Outside of obvious cap dumps (Johansson, Hayes, Hall, etc).

This will probably be the most lopsided deal this off-season. How did the Kings manage to get bent over so bad, for a player that forced the other team to trade him, we will never know. Two NHL players, each is close to the level of PLD + futures going to Winnie.

Just Wow.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Tkachuk trade 2.0

WE WIN YAYAYAY GKG

 

[sergejean]

I like the trade and the long term contract for L.A. 24 y.o. (soon to be 25) versatile, power centre type players aren't usually available and now L.A. have secured one on a good contract for the prime years of his career.

 

[go4hockey]

Outside of obvious cap dumps (Johansson, Hayes, Hall, etc).

This will probably be the most lopsided deal this off-season. How did the Kings manage to get bent over so bad, for a player that forced the other team to trade him, we will never know. Two NHL players, each is close to the level of PLD + futures going to Winnie.

Just Wow.

There are not two players in this deal close to what PLD brings. Gabe is the main piece and he could be close to PLD level if he stays healthy but nobody else in the deal is anywhere near PLD level and the 2nd best piece AI had to be involved to make the cap work and cause the Kings have a bunch of similar wingers. If Gabe is troubled by more back problems this trade will suck for the Jets.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

That’s a lot to trade just to sign a huge contract. We’ll see if PLD is finally happy, not sure I like this for the Kings when they’ve been playing it smart for so long. Just a big swing on a questionable dude.

 

[ktownhockey]

Makes sense for LA. Vilardi to my knowledge is not a natural center.

PLD gives them depth down the middle and he will serve as a replacement to Kopitar when he retires.

Extends their competitive window. Without this trade, once Kopitar is done LA has a huge problem.

This keep em in the mix for a very long time. Helps them transition away from Kopitar and Doughty to PLD and Clarke.

LA should be a good team for the next 8+ years. I like the trade.

Good post! I will say Vilardi has been a natural C his entire life. Just got jammed up because of LA and injuries (skating speed). We shall see if the Jets give him a chance to prove himself at C.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Always thought Vilardi was going to be a stud, but I didn't realize he's had injuries to deal with. When I first heard the trade I thought it was terrible for LA as I think Vilardi is going to be better than PLD. I still think Vilardi will be better, but the injury situation isn't good. Guess, like others mentioned, that's gonna be what the trade winner hinges on.

 

[Buffdog]

I honestly thought he was going to be a Hab and that the Jets would get very little for him....Great deal for the Jets and a solid pick up for the Kings....I think the Habs are the losers here.....

I think the Habs would have been extremely happy had they given up Dach as the centerpiece in a PLD trade. I think he's that good. His contract at 8.5M isn't out of line with Suzuki and Caulfield given the RFA vs UFA years involved

So many Habs fans on the mainboard recoiled with horror at the prospect of including Dach, but I think PLD is that much of an upgrade. Time will tell

 

[ktownhockey]

Really Chevy sold low and could have gotten a lot more...Yafallo probably won't report and if he does will be gone(UFA) in 2 years! Vilardi hasn't played a full season since Pee-Wee while Kupari was rushed too soon but may thrive in 3rd line role with the Jets! At least he won't complain that the weather is too cold in Winnipeg like a lot of the American players or that he he's being taxed up the yin yang

haha I was his Major Peewee coach He had QUITE the year haha not that it matters, but it was fun to watch first hand. Minor Bantam he wasn't injured.... I would say late Major Bantam.

It's a little funny that you laughed at posters for not being familiar with the Kings players involved... and then misspelled Vilardi's name. Keep up the good work.

He's 23 also haha

 

[KingsHockey24]

Quinton Byfield - Anze Kopitar - Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Arthur Kaliyev
Trevor Moore - Philip Danault - Viktor Arvidsson
Carl Grundstrom - Blake Lizotte - Alex Turcotte

Not toooooo shabbbbyyyy

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Happy the Jets got a solid return.

Last year of Kopitar with 3 deadly Cs going to be very interesting.

 

[TheSuperElite]

great trade for the Oilers

 

[soothsayer]

great trade for the Oilers

Seriously. Kings would have lost in 5 against the Oilers with this trade.

 

[Oh Snap]

Reading some Kings "fans" post on this thread and others jumping on is mind boggling.

This is a good trade for both teams, with the possibility to be huge for LA. We've been booted by the Oilers two years in a row, because (SHOCKER) we can't match up with them down the middle.

What does Blake do? Goes out and gets a big power forward 1a/1b centerman just entering his prime, and locked him up for 8 years at a reasonable cap hit, with the cap expected to rise.

And he gave up:
Vilardi - Love Gabe, wish him nothing but the best in WPG. Was just coming into his own - excellent hands, vision, and hockey sense. Pretty slow due to back injuries and was moved to wing to compensate. WPG gambled that he will stay healthy, but he's one big hit away from involuntary retirement.
Iaffalo - 4m AAV to play on the 4th line?... redundant.
Kupari - Healthy scratch for long stretches last year, 4th line center with a career high of 15 points.
Montreal 2nd round pick - Our track record with Blake drafting isn't the best, and it's a pretty shallow draft year.

I think people are looking at this and seeing the QUANTITY given up and not the QUALITY. We are up against the cap, and Blake shed salary and made this team better while doing it. This opens up more spots for the younger kids to potentially step in and make an impact.

The gamble is keeping PLD engaged, hopefully choosing his destination this time around can put him in that mindset.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Can't believe we just ripped off the Kings.

I think Dubois is going to only have one memorable year there. But glad he's gone because he took the dumbest penalties. LA is gonna have to work on their PK.

 

[Guffman]

The 10K Dubois thread was locked on the Montreal forum.

 

[Buffdog]

The 10K Dubois thread was locked on the Montreal forum.

I lurked though it. Surprisingly reasonable takes vs the shitshow Habs posted here on the main boards

 

[Atoyot]

Can't believe we just ripped off the Kings.

I think Dubois is going to only have one memorable year there. But glad he's gone because he took the dumbest penalties. LA is gonna have to work on their PK.

He drew more than he took.