Kings Acquire Forward Pierre-Luc Dubois From the Winnipeg Jets

The LA Kings have acquired forward Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for forwards Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari and Gabriel Vilardi and a second-round draft pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. In addition, Dubois agreed to terms on an eight-year contract worth an average annual value (AAV) of $8,500,000 through the 2030-31 season.

"Pierre-Luc Dubois is an elite two-way center with a unique skillset, and we're excited to have him join the organization and commit to us long-term," said Rob Blake, general manager and executive vice president of the LA Kings. "Over the last few seasons, he has proven the ability to contribute to all facets of the game and we are thrilled to be able to add a player of this caliber into our lineup."

"On behalf of the entire LA Kings organization, we would like to thank Alex, Rasmus and Gabriel for their immense contributions both on and off the ice," said Luc Robitaille, president of the LA Kings. "Their efforts over the last few seasons on the ice, as well as with fans and throughout the community, have made a substantial mark on our franchise and we wish them all continued success in their future."

Dubois, 25, posted a career-high 63 points (27-36=63) in 73 games and added four points (2-2=4) in five Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Jets last season. It marked the first time he's produced consecutive 60-point campaigns (60 points (28-32=60); 2021-22) and the second time he's surpassed 20 goals in back-to-back seasons (2017-19).

The 2022-23 campaign was also the second-straight season in which the 6-4, 215-pound forward established several single-season career-highs. In 2021-22, he set career marks in goals (28), game-winning goals (6), powerplay goals (15), penalty minutes (PIM; 106) and time-on-ice per game (TOI; 18:55) before reaching new career-highs in points (63), assists (36), powerplay points (23), powerplay assists (12) and faceoff win percentage (48.89%) this past season.

Dubois joins the Kings as one of just five players in the NHL to amass over 100 points and 180 PIM over the past two seasons. Of those five players, Dubois ranks third in points (123), goals (55), assists (68) and TOI (18:42) and sits fourth in games played (154) and PIM (183). Collectively, his performance over the last two seasons paces all Kings forwards in powerplay goals (26) and PIM (183) while tying captain Anze Kopitar in powerplay points (42). He also ranks second in TOI (Kopitar, 20:32), third in points (Kevin Fiala, 157 points (56-101=157), Kopitar, 141 points (47-94=141)), goals (Adrian Kempe (76), Fiala (56)), and assists (Fiala, 101; Kopitar, 94), and sits fourth in games played (154).

Originally drafted third overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2016 NHL Draft, Dubois leads the entire 2016 NHL Draft Class in powerplay faceoffs taken (432) and powerplay faceoffs won (222) while ranking second in penalties drawn (186), PIM (383), faceoffs taken (5,409), faceoffs won (2,456), even-strength faceoffs taken (4,942) and even-strength faceoffs won (2,216). He is also one of five players in the class with four or more 20-goal campaigns and one of 10 players with multiple 60-point seasons. Among NHL skaters 25 years-and-younger, he ranks fourth in faceoffs won (2,456), seventh in powerplay goals (36) and eighth in points (302), goals (129), even-strength goals (93) and games played (434).

Over six NHL seasons split between Winnipeg (2021-23) and Columbus (2017-21), Dubois has amassed 302 points (129-173=302) in 434 regular-season games and contributed 26 points (10-26=26) in 38 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. He began his NHL career with Columbus in 2017-18, totaling 159 points (66-93=159) in 239 regular-season games and posting 19 points (8-11=19) in 26 Stanley Cup Playoff games before being acquired by the Jets on January 23, 2021. In 195 regular-season games with the Jets, Dubois tallied 143 points (63-80=143) and added seven points (2-5=7) in 12 playoff games.

Prior to the NHL, Dubois spent four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (2014-17) and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (2016-17), earning 199 points (73-126=199) in 164 career QMJHL games. He added 39 points (18-21=39) in 38 QMJHL postseason contests highlighted by finishing runner-up in the 2017 QMJHL Finals.

Internationally, the Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec native has represented Canada in five International Ice Hockey Federation events, including three IIHF Men's World Championships (2018, 2019 - silver, 2022 - silver), one IIHF World Junior Championship (2017 - silver) and one IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship (2015 - bronze). Dubois is also the son of Eric Dubois, a fourth-round pick (76th-overall) by the Quebec Nordiques at the 1989 NHL Draft.

Iafallo, 29, tallied 36 points (14-22=36) in 59 regular-season games and added four points (3-1=4) in six Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Kings this season. An undrafted free agent signing in April 2017, Iafallo has spent his entire six-year NHL career with the Kings, amassing 204 points (84-119=204) in 420 appearances and nine points (5-4=9) in 16 career playoff games.

Kupari, 23, collected a career-best 15 points (3-12=15) in a career-high 66 games played with the Kings this season. The Kings first-round pick (20th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft, Kupari made his NHL debut in 2020-21. Over parts of three seasons, the Kotka, Finland native has collected 29 points (9-20=29) in 130 regular-season appearances and appeared in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Vilardi, 23, registered 41 points (23-18=41) in 63 games this season, establishing career-highs in games played, points, goals, assists, powerplay points (9), powerplay goals (5), powerplay assists (4), game-winning goals (6) and TOI (15:36). In the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Vilardi set career marks in games played (5), points (4), goals (2) and assists (2). A first-round selection (11th overall) by the Kings in the 2017 NHL Draft, Vilardi has registered 78 points (41-37=71) in 152 regular-season games and added four points (2-2=4) in seven playoff games.