We Have A BLOCKBUSTER TRADE: Winnipeg Sends Laine And Roslovic To Columbus For Pierre Luc Dubois
MONSTER trade. We have two of the top 3 picks from the 2016 NHL Draft getting swapped here. Dubois is an absolute stud 1C (when he feels like it). A 200ft player. A guy that you can really build a team around. We've seen him do it in the playoffs. He was a point per game guy in the bubble last year. These are all things I felt about him before the debacle the other night where he got 3:55 mins in ice time and it looked like this
Guys who can slip seemingly with ease into a level of play that is unprofessional and be a bad teammate always give me pause. Dubois desperately wanted out of CBJ and he's signed through next year so he just forced his way out. CBJ did him the courtesy of trading him to the Canadian version of Columbus so he should feel right at home.
In return CBJ gets two other guys who were disillusioned with Winnipeg. Former #2 pick Laine and 2015 first round pick and current hold out, Jack Roslovic
We will start with the headliner and that is obviously Laine. There were people saying that Laine should've been drafted ahead of Matthews during his rookie year that saw the big Fin score 44 goals. Then the next year he had a "sophomore slump" and scored 30 goals. Then last year it was 28 in 68 games. He is productive. He scores seemingly at will. Big shot. Knows where the goals are. He is just...sort of a dog. Always leaves you wanting more. Not overly competitive. He's also on a bridge deal. Honestly, he is just not my favorite and I wouldn't want to invest any serious dollars in Laine. I can't wait to see how he and Torts get along which should be a disaster. IF Laine buys in then the Jackets get offensive production they've been missing since they lost basically anyone who can score in the last few years.
I do however LOVE Jack Roslovic who has been holding out in Winnipeg. I've had a hockey crush on him for years. I wanted the Blackhawks to take a run at him. He is versatile. Competitive. Responsible. And I think he is just scratching the surface. He is PERFECT for the culture with CBJ. Torts will love him and guess what...he was born and raised in Columbus. He played college hockey at Miami of Ohio. His numbers in the NHL won't wow you but some of that is just lack of opportunity. You can plug Roslovic somewhere in your top 9 and always feel good about it. Love his game. Wish the Blackhawks saw an opportunity and took a run at him but what can you do.
On paper I think this looks like a good trade for both teams. Our malcontents for your malcontents, and both teams hoping they get the better, motivated, fresh start versions of the guys they're acquiring. Could be a trade where both sides are ultimately happy sort of like the Jones-Johanson trade a few years back. My gut says that both Laine and Dubois hit the open market when their deals are up after 2022.