Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness says he tried everything to keep forward Pierre-Luc Dubois in Manitoba, but his decision to leave the organization is final.
The Los Angeles Kings will visit the Jets on Tuesday night. To mark the occasion, Dubois will reconnect with his former supporters. This meeting will be the first between the two teams since the transaction with the Quebecer this summer.
• Also read: Elias Pettersson could lead the Canucks very far
• Also read: The Penguins have found a complement to Evgeni Malkin
• Also read: Pierre-Luc Dubois laughs at critics
“I’ve talked to him a lot,” Bowness said Monday. I tried to convince him to stay, but that wasn’t going to happen anyway. I have no problem with Dubois, we had a good relationship.
Since the beginning of the camp, the instructor for the Manitoba team has repeatedly emphasized that every player in attendance, without exception, wanted to be a Jet. Dubois’ agent Pat Brisson had made a statement saying the Quebecer wanted to be traded.
“It was no secret that he wasn’t going to sign here long-term,” Bowness added. When a player’s agent makes such a statement, it is clear that the hockey player did not want to play here.
Good players and a good choice
In exchange for Dubois, who signed an eight-year, $68 million contract, the Jets received Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kapari and the Canadiens’ second-round pick in 2024. The transaction was very satisfactory, according to Bowness.
“All three players are very good,” he said. You fit well into our group. They are full of potential. We also received a second-round pick within a year. This is a very good transaction from “Chevy” [Kevin Cheveldayoff, le directeur général des Jets].”
Winnipeg lost its first game against the Calgary Flames 5-3 before winning 6-4 against the Florida Panthers.