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]

It's really not the trade that concerns me, but the 8yr commitment.

I wouldn’t want this guy as my #1 centre for 8 years unless he takes his game to a new level like Matthew Tkachuk did this year.

 

[Surf Nutz]

I was pissed off but now, I'm over it. Finally realized that it was ALWAYS about Dubois getting the most he can and the Habs talk was just a negotiation ploy.

Another in a long line of me-me-me players who have no problem using any situation to make more money.

For any Hab fans who still believe in fairy tales, if Dubois was UFA next year, he would of taken the highest offer (including Bruins) and I bet it would be closer to 9.5-10 if he had a good year. Which I think is too much for him.

So to LA...good luck. You may or may NOT have your next Kopitar.

To Jets...you got the best out of a bad situation. In hindsight, I think you are better off to build around players who want to be there then straight up money mercenaries.

Good luck to you too!
You may never win another cup but you have croissants.

So you wanted PLD to sign with the Salvation Army?

 

[BelovedIsles]

You used the word elite. Someone with ELITE shot/goalscoring ability not being a star... humm. He's a star or his shot/goalscoring ability are not ELITE. Pick one

A player can have an elite shot and goalscoring instincts, but lack many other components of being a star. That's what makes stars truly distinct and impressive; they combine so many skillsets at an elite level.

 

[Boxertim]

So where will Dvorak line up on the Jets roster next year…….wait what?….I thought we got Dvorak and a 7th in 2026?

 

[Royale With Cheese]

I was pissed off but now, I'm over it. Finally realized that it was ALWAYS about Dubois getting the most he can and the Habs talk was just a negotiation ploy.

Another in a long line of me-me-me players who have no problem using any situation to make more money.

For any Hab fans who still believe in fairy tales, if Dubois was UFA next year, he would of taken the highest offer (including Bruins) and I bet it would be closer to 9.5-10 if he had a good year. Which I think is too much for him.

So to LA...good luck. You may or may NOT have your next Kopitar.

To Jets...you got the best out of a bad situation. In hindsight, I think you are better off to build around players who want to be there then straight up money mercenaries.

I actually think it's more about lifestyle and off-ice things for PLD. He got paid for sure, but I think he was always angling for a big city. And preferably a warm one.

 

[BamBam1031]

I have to say, the Kings board is straight up mental. Everyone pats each other's back for "levels of nuance" and "circling back" on logical fallacies, but it's just a carefully groomed echo chamber of negativity where Blake is hated more than Trump. Absolutely deranged.

If he drafts for need, "Stupid Rob! Can't draft!" If he drafts BPA, "We have too many RHD!" If he wisely holds onto his assets waiting for the right trade, "Qui Gon Bluc is creating an imbalance in the Force!" If he trades these assets for guys like Dubois, "Robbed Blake!" It's like they can't forget the time he took off his "C" and still want to hang him in effigy. Would it have been better if he had blown his load on JT Miller?

The guy is doing a good job. Has his share of misses (cough...Cal...cough), obviously, but which GM doesn't? Makes mostly fair trades, signs players to reasonable contracts, maintains good relationships with his peers, has a multi-year plan, and....dare I say it? Has created a team culture that has become a selling point for other players. Guys work hard, play for one another, and enjoy life together outside the rink. Are there better GMs? Of course. But LA could do a whole lot worse, too. Give the man his due.

 

[YP44]

I wouldn’t want this guy as my #1 centre for 8 years unless he takes his game to a new level like Matthew Tkachuk did this year.

hopefully he can be a 1B in LA.

I have to say, the Kings board is straight up mental. Everyone pats each other's back for "levels of nuance" and "circling back" on logical fallacies, but it's just a carefully groomed echo chamber of negativity where Blake is hated more than Trump. Absolutely deranged.

If he drafts for need, "Stupid Rob! Can't draft!" If he drafts BPA, "We have too many RHD!" If he wisely holds onto his assets waiting for the right trade, "Qui Gon Bluc is creating an imbalance in the Force!" If he trades these assets for guys like Dubois, "Robbed Blake!" It's like they can't forget the time he took off his "C" and still want to hang him in effigy. Would it have been better if he had blown his load on JT Miller?

The guy is doing a good job. Has his share of misses (cough...Cal...cough), obviously, but which GM doesn't? Makes mostly fair trades, signs players to reasonable contracts, maintains good relationships with his peers, has a multi-year plan, and....dare I say it? Has created a team culture that has become a selling point for other players. Guys work hard, play for one another, and enjoy life together outside the rink. Are there better GMs? Of course. But LA could do a whole lot worse, too. Give the man his due.

I am a big time Blake hater, but I think the Fiala deal was a good one. Danault signing was good to.

I just do not think the juice is worth the squeeze here. Maybe if it seemed like Vilardi wanted a fresh start somewhere, but even then you have a team that should have had little leverage. Given what other players are getting (or lack of returns) Winnipeg did very well here.

I think it is ok to hate blake, shit on him for his faults but acknowledge the good moves he does. People crapped on DL too.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I have to say, the Kings board is straight up mental. Everyone pats each other's back for "levels of nuance" and "circling back" on logical fallacies, but it's just a carefully groomed echo chamber of negativity where Blake is hated more than Trump. Absolutely deranged.

If he drafts for need, "Stupid Rob! Can't draft!" If he drafts BPA, "We have too many RHD!" If he wisely holds onto his assets waiting for the right trade, "Qui Gon Bluc is creating an imbalance in the Force!" If he trades these assets for guys like Dubois, "Robbed Blake!" It's like they can't forget the time he took off his "C" and still want to hang him in effigy. Would it have been better if he had blown his load on JT Miller?

The guy is doing a good job. Has his share of misses (cough...Cal...cough), obviously, but which GM doesn't? Makes mostly fair trades, signs players to reasonable contracts, maintains good relationships with his peers, has a multi-year plan, and....dare I say it? Has created a team culture that has become a selling point for other players. Guys work hard, play for one another, and enjoy life together outside the rink. Are there better GMs? Of course. But LA could do a whole lot worse, too. Give the man his due.

LMAO sorry....I've been saying that for years.....finally someone on the outside voices the opinion....

 

[Baksfamous112]

I wouldn’t want this guy as my #1 centre for 8 years unless he takes his game to a new level like Matthew Tkachuk did this year.

Tkachuk had a 110+ points season the year prior to being traded to Florida

I have to say, the Kings board is straight up mental. Everyone pats each other's back for "levels of nuance" and "circling back" on logical fallacies, but it's just a carefully groomed echo chamber of negativity where Blake is hated more than Trump. Absolutely deranged.

If he drafts for need, "Stupid Rob! Can't draft!" If he drafts BPA, "We have too many RHD!" If he wisely holds onto his assets waiting for the right trade, "Qui Gon Bluc is creating an imbalance in the Force!" If he trades these assets for guys like Dubois, "Robbed Blake!" It's like they can't forget the time he took off his "C" and still want to hang him in effigy. Would it have been better if he had blown his load on JT Miller?

The guy is doing a good job. Has his share of misses (cough...Cal...cough), obviously, but which GM doesn't? Makes mostly fair trades, signs players to reasonable contracts, maintains good relationships with his peers, has a multi-year plan, and....dare I say it? Has created a team culture that has become a selling point for other players. Guys work hard, play for one another, and enjoy life together outside the rink. Are there better GMs? Of course. But LA could do a whole lot worse, too. Give the man his due.

The bigger issue here I think is the so many misses in the top 5 for Blake. Had he “scored” on either Byfield or Turcotte he wouldn’t have needed to deplete his depth to acquire PLD.

 

[Lt Dan]

I have to say, the Kings board is straight up mental.

I thought this was about me until I read the rest of the post

 

[kevsh]

I have to say, the Kings board is straight up mental .... Give the man his due.

Congrats you just described fans of every team on this forum.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Fans are critical of their favorite team's GM on the Internet, stop the presses and pay attention to me

I am a big time Blake hater, but I think the Fiala deal was a good one. Danault signing was good to.

I just do not think the juice is worth the squeeze here. Maybe if it seemed like Vilardi wanted a fresh start somewhere, but even then you have a team that should have had little leverage. Given what other players are getting (or lack of returns) Winnipeg did very well here.

I think it is ok to hate blake, shit on him for his faults but acknowledge the good moves he does. People crapped on DL too.

There are plenty of completely logical reasons to be critical of this trade and you don't need to apologize for it.

With some time to process it my biggest isn't even the player himself as much as it is the neglect of other needs and the verbalized 'plan' to ice less than a full roster in order to be cap compliant.

Even IF PLD plays to his potential, the other needs were the achilles.

 

[YP44]

Fans are critical of their favorite team's GM on the Internet, stop the presses and pay attention to me



There are plenty of completely logical reasons to be critical of this trade and you don't need to apologize for it.

With some time to process it my biggest isn't even the player himself as much as it is the neglect of other needs and the verbalized 'plan' to ice less than a full roster in order to be cap compliant.

Even IF PLD plays to his potential, the other needs were the achilles.

oh i agree, I am trying to resist judgement till the roster is set. but sure seems like LA will be trying to fit a square peg into a round hole to round out their roster.

 

[kilowatt]

What would a good AAV be for PLD? Would $7.5 be more palatable? This really boils down to whether or not PLD at $8.5 million is better for the next eight years than Vilardi at whatever he signs at.

There were some rumblings (from Lisa Dillman at least) that the Kings organization had soured on Vilardi prior to this past season. Maybe there was more truth to that than I thought.

 

[YP44]

What would a good AAV be for PLD? Would $7.5 be more palatable? This really boils down to whether or not PLD at $8.5 million is better for the next eight years than Vilardi at whatever he signs at.

There were some rumblings (from Lisa Dillman at least) that the Kings organization had soured on Vilardi prior to this past season. Maybe there was more truth to that than I thought.

I am even ok with the contract amoutn for PLD. just do not think it made sense for LA. Both in terms of roster need, and timing.

 

[tkb81]

I have to say, the Kings board is straight up mental. Everyone pats each other's back for "levels of nuance" and "circling back" on logical fallacies, but it's just a carefully groomed echo chamber of negativity where Blake is hated more than Trump. Absolutely deranged.

If he drafts for need, "Stupid Rob! Can't draft!" If he drafts BPA, "We have too many RHD!" If he wisely holds onto his assets waiting for the right trade, "Qui Gon Bluc is creating an imbalance in the Force!" If he trades these assets for guys like Dubois, "Robbed Blake!" It's like they can't forget the time he took off his "C" and still want to hang him in effigy. Would it have been better if he had blown his load on JT Miller?

The guy is doing a good job. Has his share of misses (cough...Cal...cough), obviously, but which GM doesn't? Makes mostly fair trades, signs players to reasonable contracts, maintains good relationships with his peers, has a multi-year plan, and....dare I say it? Has created a team culture that has become a selling point for other players. Guys work hard, play for one another, and enjoy life together outside the rink. Are there better GMs? Of course. But LA could do a whole lot worse, too. Give the man his due.

rob that you ? hahah

 

[Mats26]

I am even ok with the contract amoutn for PLD. just do not think it made sense for LA. Both in terms of roster need, and timing.

The timer ran out or is about to.
Timing is exactly why this trade happen. With no prospects ready to take on the 1C and Kopitar turning 36 next month, with 1 year left on his huge contract, do we want to wheel him out for the next 5 years till 40 as our 1C? We need to start a post Kopitar era at 1C that fits the age range of Fiala, Kempe and the younger prospects behind them.

Roster needs. Sure a goalie would be great but I am not comfortable paying any goalie crazy money\assets anymore. Get a cheap goalie to get us to the TDL, things open up from there.

 

[Coffey]

This is Chiarelli-esque.

 

[kingsfan28]

I actually think it's more about lifestyle and off-ice things for PLD. He got paid for sure, but I think he was always angling for a big city. And preferably a warm one.

All the players live at the beach, and it's about 10 minutes up the coast to the training center. He'll love living in the South Bay and carpooling to downtown LA for games. Hope he worth what we gave up.

 

[HuGort]

Canadiens GM sick! We never get anybody good. Michkov, Dubois. Why this team hasn't won in 30+ years. Be another 30 way they going

 

[Surf Nutz]

I have to say, the Kings board is straight up mental. Everyone pats each other's back for "levels of nuance" and "circling back" on logical fallacies, but it's just a carefully groomed echo chamber of negativity where Blake is hated more than Trump. Absolutely deranged.

If he drafts for need, "Stupid Rob! Can't draft!" If he drafts BPA, "We have too many RHD!" If he wisely holds onto his assets waiting for the right trade, "Qui Gon Bluc is creating an imbalance in the Force!" If he trades these assets for guys like Dubois, "Robbed Blake!" It's like they can't forget the time he took off his "C" and still want to hang him in effigy. Would it have been better if he had blown his load on JT Miller?

The guy is doing a good job. Has his share of misses (cough...Cal...cough), obviously, but which GM doesn't? Makes mostly fair trades, signs players to reasonable contracts, maintains good relationships with his peers, has a multi-year plan, and....dare I say it? Has created a team culture that has become a selling point for other players. Guys work hard, play for one another, and enjoy life together outside the rink. Are there better GMs? Of course. But LA could do a whole lot worse, too. Give the man his due.

Bam Bam, you just bam bamed your head up against on very stubborn wall.
As the replies have already shown.
And you got the watered down version because you are not a regular on the Kings board.

 

[Sparky206]

I have to say, the Kings board is straight up mental. Everyone pats each other's back for "levels of nuance" and "circling back" on logical fallacies, but it's just a carefully groomed echo chamber of negativity where Blake is hated more than Trump. Absolutely deranged.

If he drafts for need, "Stupid Rob! Can't draft!" If he drafts BPA, "We have too many RHD!" If he wisely holds onto his assets waiting for the right trade, "Qui Gon Bluc is creating an imbalance in the Force!" If he trades these assets for guys like Dubois, "Robbed Blake!" It's like they can't forget the time he took off his "C" and still want to hang him in effigy. Would it have been better if he had blown his load on JT Miller?

The guy is doing a good job. Has his share of misses (cough...Cal...cough), obviously, but which GM doesn't? Makes mostly fair trades, signs players to reasonable contracts, maintains good relationships with his peers, has a multi-year plan, and....dare I say it? Has created a team culture that has become a selling point for other players. Guys work hard, play for one another, and enjoy life together outside the rink. Are there better GMs? Of course. But LA could do a whole lot worse, too. Give the man his due.

You didn't even mention the part where they still go on about how kopitar should have been traded at the end of 2015, the writing was on the wall and he's not worth his contract.

The forum just wants a permanent rebuild, they are already talking about the next rebuild and how the back half of pld contract will be a waste.

 

[8randyn]

The bottom line is that Vilardi and Byfield are not 1C material for the next 2-3 years. The reality of Vilardi is that his lack of foot speed inhibits him from driving play from center at this level, and we have many scoring wingers in the pipeline such as Fagemo, Madden, Chromiak, and Laferriere. Dubois should push for 1C during the next two years as Kopitar exits.

 

[kevsh]

Dubois should push for 1C during the next two years as Kopitar exits.

That's the plan obviously, but if he doesn't whoa baby what a disaster for the Kings.

Rob had Kopitar, Byfield, Turcotte, Vilardi, Kupari and I'm sure I'm missing a few more all lined up for what was shaping up to be just crazy deep center depth. So much so just a couple of years ago, once Danault was brought in, all the talk was which 2 or 3 were going to have to transition to the wing to make room.

Fast forward to today and Blake had to go out and send 3 roster players and 2nd round pick to get a potential 1C. And give him a full 8 years to boot.

Turcotte is mostly written off, Kupari & Vilardi traded, I know I'll get hate for this because I've been down on Byfield before he was even drafted but he's going to have to do something stellar quick before the bust label is tattooed on him, and Danault is a $5M+ 3C.

Considering the cost it took to get Dubios, it all smells like Blake was desperate to get his next 1C after he'd all but given up on the rest of them.

 

[8randyn]

That's the plan obviously, but if he doesn't whoa baby what a disaster for the Kings.

Rob had Kopitar, Byfield, Turcotte, Vilardi, Kupari and I'm sure I'm missing a few more all lined up for what was shaping up to be just crazy deep center depth. So much so just a couple of years ago, once Danault was brought in, all the talk was which 2 or 3 were going to have to transition to the wing to make room.

Fast forward to today and Blake had to go out and send 3 roster players and 2nd round pick to get a potential 1C. And give him a full 8 years to boot.

Turcotte is mostly written off, Kupari & Vilardi traded, I know I'll get hate for this because I've been down on Byfield before he was even drafted but he's going to have to do something stellar quick before the bust label is tattooed on him, and Danault is a $5M+ 3C.

Considering the cost it took to get Dubios, it all smells like Blake was desperate to get his next 1C after he'd all but given up on the rest of them.

I would like to see Byfield get rotations at 2C with Dubois this season on his wing just to try and get him acclimated to the center role. I think it will be really good for Byfield to play with Dubois style of play as opposed to deferring to Kopitar. I’d also like to see Kopitars minutes trimmed back to get equal ice time for all three center ice men.

I was really pushing for the kings to acquire Eichel for his ability to help develop Byfield into an offensive player rather than deferring to more of the perimeter style play that Kopitar utilizes, so I am hoping Dubois can fill that role. It’s just hard for most players to play with Kopitar and put up big offensive numbers, look at how many LW’s we went through for the past 10 years on Kopitars wing.