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Contract Talks Between Pierre-Luc Dubois & the Winnipeg Jets Are Nonexistent

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Jon
June 4, 2022  (11:39 PM)
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Pending restricted free agent Pierre-Luc Dubois has not had any contract negotiations with the Winnipeg Jets, per Jeff Marek. This would not mark the first time he's had difficult contract negotiations. The star forward infamously demanded a trade from Columbus & made it clear he would not re-sign there. After a lengthy saga, he was subsequently traded to Winnipeg. Neither location is exactly a paradise, so it is unsurprising that he might not be wholly interested in sticking around.

That would, however, be a major issue for Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. Having traded star forward Patrick Laine in exchange, if Dubois forces the hand of Cheveldayoff it might be tough to yield an adequate return. PLD is coming off of a two-year, $10 million contract with a qualifying offer of $6.65 million.

He's scored 80 points in 122 games with the Jets, including 3 points in 7 playoff matches. The 3rd overall draft pick in 2016, Dubois seemingly wants to play in a huge hockey market that isn't Columbus or Winnipeg. Purely speculation, but considering he won't re-sign in Winnipeg it's kind of obvious. They have a projected $18 million in cap space to offer him a reasonable package, but the fact that all is quiet on the contract front speaks to the likely scenario that it isn't about money. There has to be something else, and the rumor during his negotiations with Columbus was that he wanted to play in a premiere hockey market where he could be a centerpiece. This is a situation to watch with considerable interest over the summer.