Blue Jackets trade Dubois to Jets for Laine, Roslovic

The Columbus Blue Jackets traded forward Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for forwards Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic, the team announced Saturday.

Winnipeg also receives a 2022 third-round draft pick from Columbus and will retain 26% of Laine's $6.75-million salary.

Roslovic, who was a restricted free agent, also signed a two-year, $3.8-million deal with the Blue Jackets. The 23-year-old, who previously requested a trade, tallied 12 goals and 29 points through 71 games with the Jets last season.

Dubois, who played just 3:44 in his final game with Columbus on Thursday, also asked for a trade before the campaign began. The 22-year-old has one goal through five games this season after leading the Blue Jackets with 49 points through 70 games in 2019-20.

The deal gives Winnipeg some much-needed depth at center. The club now has Mark Scheifele, Dubois, and veteran Paul Stastny as its top three pivots.

Laine, 22, is in the final year of his current contract and is set to become a restricted free agent after this campaign.

The Jets placed Laine on injured reserve with an upper-body injury on Friday, and he hasn't played since the club's season opener on Jan. 13. The Finnish sniper tallied two goals - including the overtime winner - and one assist in that contest.

The Blue Jackets have been one of the league's lowest-scoring teams since the start of the 2019-20 campaign, and adding Laine should boost the squad in that department. The 6-foot-5 winger ranks ninth in goals (140) among all skaters since entering the league in 2016-17.

The young stars were two of the 2016 NHL Draft's most coveted players, with Laine going second overall to Winnipeg and Dubois going third overall to Columbus.

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Report: Blue Jackets ramp up efforts to trade Dubois

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen "aggressively pursued" a trade involving his disgruntled forward, Pierre-Luc Dubois, on Friday, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The Winnipeg Jets are among numerous suitors, and their package would include Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic, Friedman adds. The Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens have also expressed interest.

Both Laine and Roslovic have requested to be dealt, as has Dubois.

Dubois will reportedly be a healthy scratch Saturday when the Blue Jackets face the Tampa Bay Lightning. Columbus head coach John Tortorella benched the 22-year-old for all but about four minutes of an overtime loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday.

The skilled center took responsibility for the benching Friday after declining to speak Thursday night.

Dubois reportedly expressed a desire to be traded before this season started, signing a two-year contract rather than a longer one earlier this month in order to facilitate his eventual departure.

He's in his fourth NHL season and he's spent his whole career with the Blue Jackets, who drafted him third overall in 2016.

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Report: Dubois to be healthy scratch on Saturday

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois is expected to be a healthy scratch for Saturday's contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning, The Athletic's Aaron Portzline reports.

Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has reportedly been trying to find a trade partner for his star player since the end of December after Dubois made it known he would like a change of scenery.

The situation between the two sides took a turn on Thursday when the 22-year-old was benched for the majority of Columbus' game, playing just 3:55 in a 3-2 OT loss vs. the Lightning.

After declining to speak to the media postgame, Dubois took ownership for his benching after practice on Friday. He acknowledged he wasn't playing at his usual high level and that he needed to step up his game.

Dubois has one goal in five games this season. He has 66 goals and 93 assists in 239 career games.

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Tyler Myers won’t face further discipline for Joel Armia hit

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers won't receive further discipline for his dangerous hit on Montreal Canadiens forward Joel Armia on Thursday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Friday.

The hit occurred toward the end of the third period during the Canucks' 7-3 blowout loss. Myers was assessed a match penalty, and Armia was diagnosed with a concussion.

Canadiens head coach Claude Julien addressed the hit postgame, saying he didn't like it, but the referees handled it well.

"I didn't like the hit from Myers. He (Armia) didn't see him coming," Julien said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "It's an elbow sthat seemed high. I think the refs reacted well giving him a five-minute penalty."

"But I didn't like the hit - especially with 2:28 to go in a 6-3 game," he continued. ... Was it necessary? We're trying to clean these types of hits out of the NHL, so we'll wait and see how they'll deal with it."

The Canadiens and Canucks will play again for the third straight time on Saturday.

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Oilers’ Neal expected to make season debut vs. Leafs

Edmonton Oilers forward James Neal has been activated off the injured reserve and is expected to be in the lineup for the club's rematch with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, the team announced.

The 33-year-old was removed from the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list last Friday, and he returned to practice this week.

The veteran winger tallied 19 goals and 31 points over 55 games during his first campaign with the Oilers in 2019-20. The Calgary Flames traded him to Edmonton for winger Milan Lucic in July 2019.

A consistent goalscorer, Neal was on pace last season to crack the 20-goal mark over an 82-game slate for the 11th time in 12 NHL campaigns.

There are two years remaining on his current deal beyond this season at an annual cap hit of $5.75 million.

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Dubois takes ownership for benching: ‘I’ve got to step up my game’

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois is taking full responsibility for his recent subpar play that earned him a benching for the final two periods of Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"Whenever the next game is, I've got to step up my game," Dubois said Friday, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "I acknowledge that. I know it, and I'm ready."

The 22-year-old pivot, who requested a trade before the season began, logged just 3:55 of ice time over five shifts in the Blue Jackets' overtime loss.

Following the game, head coach John Tortorella didn't mince words when explaining his decision to sit Dubois. On Friday, the 62-year-old bench boss wouldn't commit to putting the young forward into Columbus' lineup for Saturday's rematch with the Lightning, Rosen reports.

Dubois is looking to make the most of his next opportunity and admits his game is nowhere near where it needs to be.

"I hold myself to a high standard," Dubois said, per Rosen. "I know what level I can play at. There's not a lot right now that I am satisfied with. I know I can take a step up in every aspect."

The Quebec native tallied 18 goals and a team-leading 49 points through 70 games in 2019-20 but has just one goal in five outings this season.

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