I just went to the Kings board to check out the posts from the last week or so in their Dubois thread.
Ouch. I almost feel bad for PLD. Almost.....
Maybe it's because I don't watch too many games, but I've never hated PLD as a person myself. Watching his interviews, my impression has been that he's a guy who does not speak well, seemed very timid/uncomfortable with public speaking. I wouldn't be surprised if he has mental health issues (i.e. depression, anxiety).
Based on his on-ice product, where he can be absolutely dominant when he brings it (like the CBJ/Leafs series where he single-handedly owned the Leafs) but then has LONG stretches where he looks disinterested, he seems like a guy who has amazing natural talent but not a love of the game or the discipline/dedication/mental fortitude necessary to maintain good play. I believe this happens in every profession, you will get people who actually hate their job, but are good at it, and they stay with it despite hating it because it pays the bills.
It probably sticks out more in NHL, because the vast majority of players only got to "the game" by being 100% dedicated at all times. But you'll get the occasional "freak of nature" who has so much natural talent that he got to the NHL without needing that level of dedication and intensity.
I think PLD could have been an amazing player if he had that love of the game and dedication.
Kind of similar to Laine but in different ways, actually. I guess they both attract hate, PLD seems to get more around here but that's probably recency bias.
End of the day, I think we're better off with Vilardi/Iaffalo/Kupari/whatever that 2nd turns into than we would be with either Laine or PLD so I hold no animosity towards either of them. More a touch of melancholy over what could have been for both of them and the league if they both had more dedication to their craft.