PL Dubois opens up about his ambitions, insight, and how he landed in Los Angeles.

[Billy Kvcmu]

I mean he wants more media exposure and spotlights.
That’s rare for an nhl player but props to him

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Pierre Luc Dramois

 

[VivaLasVegas]

Playing in the NHL is a privilege.

LOL, if that were true the teams wouldn't be paying these guys to play.

Professional hockey is simply a business. The players sell the teams the commodity of their talent through the collective bargaining agreement negotiated with the NHLPA, the teams then repackage that talent with a stadium and glitz into entertainment and sell it to the fans, who are nothing more-or-less than consumers of the entertainment. It's not much different than airlines pilots who basically sell their ATC license and skills to the airlines, who repackage those skills with an airplane and fuel and sell seats to their customers. Or top chefs at fancy restaurants or talented options traders hired by hedge funds.

Those players who have sufficient talent and drive get contracts; those who don't get a complimentary spirit towel for trying. But there is no privilege about it, at least as privilege is commonly understood. All the sports leagues encourage that the sport is something else that transcends ordinary business, and all the sports journalists and talk show commentators play up to that (because ultimately the idea benefits them as well), but that's nothing more than an ages-old marketing gimmick. The harder truth is that professional hockey is just another form of entertainment, nothing more, nothing less.

And the players? They are just paid performers. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Dr John Carlson]

In the entire history of humanity, there's never been a greater concentration of people who consider athletes 'clowns' for preferring to live in Los Angeles than Winnipeg and Columbus than there is in this thread. I think that's genuinely an impressive achievement.

 

[Osprey]

For the record, here's the main section of the article that the OP summarized:

If Dubois’ “why” is “because he wanted to” then it’s important to understand what makes him happy in L.A.

It was Dubois’ mom Jill’s birthday last week. She and Daphne flew out to visit Dubois in Los Angeles. He took them out for dinner at Nobu, an exclusive and expensive sushi restaurant in Malibu. Adam Sandler was seated next to them. Rob Schneider was there. And a couple of tables over was one of his mom’s favourite “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”

“I mean, yes it was cool for me but to see my mom and my sister almost pass out from excitement …” Dubois trails off. “It’s just small things like that.”

Los Angeles’ other amenities — warm weather and a close proximity to the ocean — still floor Dubois when he steps outside his front door. He’s thrilled to be able to go outside at any given moment and be a mile away from the ocean. He says the ability to fully disconnect from hockey makes him a better player when he shows up at the rink.

He seems to want a lifestyle that takes his mind off hockey when he's not on the clock. In fairness, most of us want to enjoy our lives and not think about work on our time off, too. On the other hand, if you're a fan who's counting on him reaching his potential, you'd probably rather hear how he's focused on hockey, not on things outside of it. Hearing that he thinks that being happy outside of the rink will passively make him a better hockey player isn't as comforting as hearing what he's actively doing to become that player.

 

[Aphid]

Columbus fans thought he quit on them. Having watched him for a couple years, I doubt that. He's just a really lazy player until he feels like playing. When he plays to his abilities he's good.

Having read the article, and due to what LA gave up for him, I hope for their fans sakes he remains happy there because when he is unhappy or does not feeling like playing, he shows it.

 

[Voight]

I mean he wants more media exposure and spotlights.
That’s rare for an nhl player but props to him

I get that, but the LA/Anaheim area has two NFL, NBA and MLB teams (plus UCLA & USC, two major college sports programs) not to mention all the actors, actresses, musicians etc. How much exposure is he really going to get?

Pierre Luc Dramois

That would be PL Dramois to you sir

(Based on the article in the OP I guess he wants to be referred to as PL from now on )

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

I get that, but the LA/Anaheim area has two NFL, NBA and MLB teams (plus UCLA & USC, two major college sports programs) not to mention all the actors, actresses, musicians etc. How much exposure is he really going to get?



That would be PL Dramois to you sir

(Based on the article in the OP I guess he wants to be referred to as PL from now on )

True but
LA is probably a much more fun place for a young millionaire than entire canada

 

[Viqsi]

Columbus fans thought he quit on them. Having watched him for a couple years, I doubt that.

There is a hidden-in-plain-sight level of conceit in this post that, once one sees it, it boggles the mind.

You know who else watched him for a couple years so as to make that judgement? The entire Columbus Blue Jackets fanbase. We were already quite familiar with his slowdown periods. The Shift was several levels beyond.

 

[Viqsi]

Incidentally, his talking about how he left Columbus because he didn't want to be part of a rebuild is bullshit, pure and simple. We were still competitive after Panarin and Boborovsky left (just ask the Maple Leafs). The rebuild happened as a direct result of his leaving - it was the final straw for Jones' departure as well.

 

[Choralone]

People are free to do what they want with their lives but this guy always sounds like such a f***in goof

"Wants to impress his starry eyed family" lol what is he 4

That is the OP's subjective summarization of the article, not any quote from PLD's, I knew HF would be way off on reading comprehension, as always.

It was Dubois’ mom Jill’s birthday last week. She and Daphne flew out to visit Dubois in Los Angeles. He took them out for dinner at Nobu, an exclusive and expensive sushi restaurant in Malibu. Adam Sandler was seated next to them. Rob Schneider was there. And a couple of tables over was one of his mom’s favourite “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”

“I mean, yes it was cool for me but to see my mom and my sister almost pass out from excitement …” Dubois trails off. “It’s just small things like that.”

The above paragraph and a half were what I think OP was referring to. It was a "small thing" as PLD's describes, not a major part of his decision-making process (and not what I would characterize as a choice for LA out of a desire to impress his family).

 

[JetsFan815]

CBJ and Winnipeg fans could answer that better, I guess. I know he had the final shift in Columbus but not sure how much he suffered from engagement issues otherwise. I never watched him consistently but I've watched him a decent amount (especially with the Habs rumors) and he looked good to me.

His "give a shit factor" varies widely. When he's on he's on and looks dynamite but at other times it appears he's just going through the motions. It is all magnified by the fact that his game is heavily reliant on his physical gifts to be effective. He's not like a Kucherov or Marner who can have absolute shit game, take the night off and still come out with 2 points. Unlike those guys he can't take nights off.. he's gotta use his physical tools to scratch and claw for every point and when it doesn't look like he's doing he looks really bad and has no shot at putting up points.

Whether that is related to engagement issues or whether that is just who he is as a player is up for debate, I feel it is related to engagement and motivation as the same guy who looks so good for 25 games can't suddenly look like complete ass in the next 10 unless there is something extra going on.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

It's crazy how you got 2nd line centers acting this way

 

[Non Player Canadiens]

so this guy got his 68M contract and he got to pick where he would live + play?

good for him man, sounds like a lot of HF keyboard warriors are jealous.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Everybody has a right to do what they want with their careers.

However, his reasons for leaving Columbus are not all the way the truth. He tried to paint it in a way that made it seem better or understandable for him to leave.

The guy who "never planned on staying for a rebuild" bought an apartment during COVID times in Columbus. Just prior to asking out. Yes he's a multi millionaire so money means little to him in that way, but he's not that stupid/reckless.

Something changed. And it wasn't just the outlook of the team with Panarin and Bob gone. The only reason the "rebuild" started was because he asked out.

 

[biturbo19]

Wants more exposure. Hides behind paywall.

Whatever man.

Have fun in Hollywood.



Can't blame a guy for wanting out of Winnipeg. But being a small fish in LA seems like a weird ass choice for him. Cool in that he can just disappear into the woodwork though. If that's what he really wants. But was that not a thing in Columbus?

 

[Non Player Canadiens]

Hides behind paywall.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Pierre Luc Dramois

Pierre-Lifestyle Dubois

 

[Bounces R Way]

I'd rather be a young millionaire in LA than Ohio or Manitoba too. Does Gretzky live full time in Edmonton or somewhere in Hollywood? I actually kind of respect Matty T for trading in the Canadian media scrutiny for flip flops and golf carts.

But I would never quit on my teammates or organization to force it in the way Dubois did. I'm not convinced that's entirely what happened in Winnipeg but it was clear as day in Columbus. I'm not even saying you can't win with guys like that, you probably can. I just wouldn't want them on my team.

 

[Monsieur Miz]

You ever seen his instagram? Dude posts like a socialite/influencer

3 posts in 3 months.

 

[Chips]

I respect him. He wants to live a certain lifestyle and ensured that would happen, whether it was in LA, Montreal or another big city. Don't get the hate.

For real


Not to mention, say he just stuffs it down inside and sticks around where he’s not happy.. is that a good mindset you want your teams players at? Just plugging along because they have to and not want to


Probably should want players who want to be there. Worked out for him, Jets and honestly the Jackets.


A lot of the time we call players entitled, it’s really us being at least as entitled if not more so. We want talented players to stick around for ultimately our entertainment, because it’s more convenient for our team to have them just stay because. Super important


To them is their life and their family’s life.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Karma would be Torts coaching the Kings.

 

[D Wakaluk]

Pompous Lowly Dupaah'

 

[Strangle]

If I’m at an accounting firm and can choose my destination you bet your f***ing ass I will.

Am I lucky and grateful to have gone through school and land a job, and was my goal to just make it there in this hypothetical? Yeah.

But put yourself in a position to be able to choose and execute that right, should be no shame in that at any level of work.

Well maybe he should have become an accountant then, and not a professional hockey player.

Because those are two very different businesses

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

There's pretty much zero chance it happens but I would laugh if LA missed the playoffs this year