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

[SeanMoneyHands]

 

[Atoyot]

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

I think most sensible posters avoid the main boards. Yes that is a shot at myself.

 

[Patagonia]

LAK got the better player, but overpaid with quantity. MTL might be the only suitor willing to pay the absurd contract. Deal could get ugly long-term.

 

[KingsHockey24]

View attachment 722420

He looks like Gabe Vilardi but less bald.

 

[Buffdog]

I think most sensible posters avoid the main boards. Yes that is a shot at myself.

Explains why I spend time here lol

 

[Jetsetter]

LAK got the better player, but overpaid with quantity. MTL might be the only suitor willing to pay the absurd contract. Deal could get ugly long-term.

PLD just turned 25! If he grows up and takes winning more seriously, he will be a very good one for you!

 

[lomiller1]

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.

I'm not sure if this is shiny new toy syndrom or what, but it's stunning to me that anyone thinks Vilardi "could be better". Just look at the massive difference between their respective careers thus far, and then realize that PLD is only 1 year older than Vilardi.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

This looks like a pretty good get for LA. Unless Vilardi has a revelatory bump in productivity the Kings get PLD for very little.

LA has to have more moves coming unless their plan is to sign min AAV players to round out the squad?

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Dubois outscored Meier, Svechnikov, DeBrincat and Scheifele last season all of whom most people would consider stars.

Leave the semantic argument aside. Bottom line, LA turned surplus assets that they can easily replace into a (low end) #1 center in his prime. They're trying to build a championship team, not hoard prospects like Pokemon.

By outscored, do you mean not outscored, because PLD did not outscore Scheifele.

 

[Hodge]

By outscored, do you mean not outscored, because PLD did not outscore Scheifele.

Mark Scheifele - 0.84 points per game
Pierre-Luc Dubois - 0.86 points per game

 

[nturn06]

With the amount of Edmonton fans who are bashing this deal for L.A they must be nervous.

Quite the opposite, if they make another 1-2 deals like this the Kings may miss the playoffs

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Mark Scheifele - 0.84 points per game
Pierre-Luc Dubois - 0.86 points per game

That ain’t outscoring my dude.

Scheifele 68 points
Dubois 63 points

 

[Ciao]

PLD isn't signing long-term with the Habs?

Weren't they getting him for free next year, or something like that?

 

[Hodge]

That ain’t outscoring my dude.

Scheifele 68 points
Dubois 63 points

Uh huh. And how many games did each of them play?

 

[The Drew]

Jets with a steal.

Big Gabe Vilardi supporter, but I disagree. Gave is a wonderful winger but played few defensive zone minutes and shot about 18% last year. He has silky mitts but is like a Faberge Egg. He is delicate because of his back but when he has space in close it’s lights out. Iafallo is a nice piece but not great an anything but D. Kupari can’t hit a wide open barn with his shot. Montreal’s 2nd I would have liked to have kept but whatever gets it done. PDL will play with Fiala and they will compliment each other. I like it from the Kings perspective.

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.

Yes
Yes
Yes x 2
And Yes

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Uh huh. And how many games did each of them play?

"Outpaced" is more accurate here than "Outscored"

 

[gojetsgo]

Uh huh. And how many games did each of them play?

who got to stuck playing with 4th liners instead of getting connor when all 3 of ehlers/wheeler/perfetti were out of the line up

 

[LeapOnOver]

I'm not sure if this is shiny new toy syndrom or what, but it's stunning to me that anyone thinks Vilardi "could be better". Just look at the massive difference between their respective careers thus far, and then realize that PLD is only 1 year older than Vilardi.

Yeah, .2 ppg difference in their careers and Dubois has played almost 300 more games. Development isn't only about age, it's also about games played. Let's see Vilardi's career totals when he hits 430 games. I'm guessing they will be close, equal or possibly better than PLD's numbers.

.2ppg is not a massive difference.

 

[Hodge]

"Outpaced" is more accurate here than "Outscored"

Semantics but fine, Dubois outpaced Meier, Svechnikov, Scheifele and DeBrincat last season all of whom are generally considered stars.

 

[Chet Manley]

This could work out really well for the Kings if PLD can grow into a 1C and Kopitar resigns at 2C money.

 

[Tom ServoMST3K]

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.

My guess is that another team besides LA and MTL were in on him.

 

[The Drew]

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.

I agree on all points

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Yeah, .2 ppg difference in their careers and Dubois has played almost 300 more games. Development isn't only about age, it's also about games played. Let's see Vilardi's career totals when he hits 430 games. I'm guessing they will be close, equal or possibly better than PLD's numbers.

.2ppg is not a massive difference.

.2ppg is 16 points a year, that's an entire quartile of difference amongst forwards.

 

[Andrei79]

Great deal for both teams and Cheveldayoff once again coming out of a tough situation with a great haul.

 

[LeapOnOver]

.2ppg is 16 points a year, that's an entire quartile of difference amongst forwards.

Yes, and Vilardi's doing that with 300 less games played. That's over 3 seasons more of development, which is important for a 24 year old. Do you not think Vilardi can be at .7ppg pace or better in another season?