Los Angeles Kings acquire Pierre-Luc Dubois from Winnipeg Jets, sign him to eight-year contract with $8.5 million AAV

Scott Maxwell
Scott Maxwell
Los Angeles Kings acquire Pierre-Luc Dubois from Winnipeg Jets, sign him to eight-year contract with $8.5 million AAV
Credit: Pierre-Luc Dubois (© Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)

The Los Angeles Kings have acquired center Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for wingers Alex Iafallo and Gabriel Vilardi, center Rasmus Kupari, and the Montreal Canadiens second-round pick in 2024.

The Kings then signed Dubois to an eight-year contract with a cap hit of $8.5 million. Dubois, 25, was a restricted free agent this summer after concluding his one-year contract with a $6 million cap hit that he signed with the Jets. His new extension will have him tied for the 42nd highest cap hit with Mika Zibanejad, Filip Forsberg, Mikhail Sergachev, Steven Stamkos, Bo Horvat, and Leon Draisaitl.

Dubois was the top trade target on Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli’s list released earlier on Tuesday due to the increased rumours surrounding Dubois going into the day. A potential deal with the Kings was rumoured to be in the works as early as Sunday, with the Kings providing the Jets with three roster players to still stay competitive next season.

Dubois played 73 games this season, with 27 goals, 36 assists, and a career-high 63 points, along with two goals, two assists, and four points in five playoff games. He was a third overall pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016, where he played parts of four seasons before he was dealt to the Jets in a deal that sent Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic to Columbus in 2021.

Iafallo, 29, dealt with some injuries this season, only playing in 59 regular season games while putting up 14 goals, 22 assists, and 36 points, along with three goals, an assist, and four points in six playoff games. He’s currently in his sixth season with the Kings after signing with them out of college, and has two years left on a four-year contract with a $4 million AAV.

Vilardi, 23, also dealt with some injuries and played only 63 regular season games in 2022-23, but still had a career year with 23 goals, 18 assists, and 41 points, along with two goals, two assists, and four points in five playoff games. He was the 11th overall pick for the Kings in 2017, spending the past five seasons between the AHL and NHL, and is currently a restricted free agent.

Kupari, 23, played most of his season in the NHL, with 3 goals, 12 assists, and 15 points in 66 regular season games, and was held pointless in six playoff games. He also played 11 games for the Ontario Reign in the AHL, where he had five goals, four assists, and nine points. Kupari was the 20th overall pick of the Kings in 2018, spending the last four seasons between the AHL and NHL, and is a restricted free agent this offseason.

Dubois will join a Kings team that finished third in the Pacific Division with a 47-25-10 record and was eliminated in the first round in six games by the Edmonton Oilers. He’ll bolster an already impressive center group in Los Angeles with Anze Kopitar, Phillip Danault, and Quinton Byfield.

Iafallo, Vilardi, and Kupari will help improve the forward depth of the Jets, something much needed after a disappointing season where they saw a shot at first place in the Central Division fall away, only to barely sneak into the final wild card spot with a 46-33-3 record. They went on to lose in the first round in five games to the eventual Stanley Cup-winning Vegas Golden Knights.

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