Around 10 PM EST last night, Darren Dreger tweeted out a bomb that WPG were the front runners for CBJ F Pierre-Luc Dubois. About an hour later, it was revealed that Laine would be going the other way if a trade gets done, and a deal could be completed by tomorrow. Around 10:30 PM EST this morning, it happened. Dubois became a Winnipeg Jet, and Laine and F Jack Roslovic became a Columbus Blue Jacket. Time to wrap our head around this blockbuster trade.
OFFICIAL TRADE
WPG acquires F Pierre-Luc Dubois and a 2022 3rd Round Pick
CBJ acquires F Patrik Laine and F Jack Roslovic
This trade is undoubtedly huge and definitely career changing for 3 players. One adds to an already incredible and solid future at the center position, and two add to an already good offense as well. Pierre-Luc Dubois is mainly a center, who will provide good stability on the second line with (assuming) Ehlers and Statsny. He adds to a great young center core, with him, Scheifele, and Cole Perfetti. That’ll be a dangerous team soon up the middle. As for Laine, I assume he will play with Atkinson and Domi. He could provide a great deal of goal scoring with his shooting skills, and with Atkinson, another great goal scorer on a line with him, they could become a pretty high scoring line (that is if Laine and Tortorella end up getting along). Roslovic will be perfect to have while Koivu is out, and when Koivu comes back, Roslovic can switch to win on the second or third line. I think he will have the best fit with his new team.
On who wins this trade? I would personally say CBJ here. I think that Laine and Tortorella will end up getting along here, and Laine will thrive with his great line of Domi and Atkinson, and Roslovic is a solid fit in Columbus, with his ability to play Center and Wing. He’s the middle top 6 player CBJ needed in my option. As of Winnipeg, I don’t see this trade being bad for them, but not as good as it will for CBJ. Dubois is a pretty good player, but I think he will get stuck behind Scheifele for most of his young career. Unless something wild like Scheifele struggles, or asks for a trade, I see CBJ being the most beneficial team from this trade.
