Kings acquire Pierre-Luc Dubois in blockbuster trade

The Kings have acquired center Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for forward Gabe Vilardi, winger Alex Iafallo, center Rasmus Kupari and Montreal’s 2024 second-round pick, as confirmed by Canada’s TSN.

Additionally, the Kings have signed Dubois to an eight-year contract extension with an annual average value of $8.5 million.

Dubois, 25, became the third highest-paid player on the Kings’ roster behind top defenseman Drew Doughty and captain Anze Kopitar.

“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,” Kings general manager and executive vice president said Rob Blake said in a statement. “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.”

Vilardi, a breakout two-way performer last season, now heads to Winnipeg to decide his own future as a restricted free agent, while the dependable Iafallo also departs from the only organization he’s known for six seasons. Kupari, a former first-round pick, curried favor at one point last season but underperformed down the stretch. The second-rounder was acquired last week in a trade that sent defenseman Sean Durzi to the Arizona Coyotes.

The Kings have already been one of the more active teams this offseason, but this move was by far their biggest, and perhaps the boldest one of Blake’s tenure, which is entering its seventh year.

Dubois, 25, was a restricted free agent represented by Pat Brisson, the same agent as Kopitar, among other stars.

As with winger Kevin Fiala last season, the idea was to acquire a pending restricted free agent and sign him to a long-term extension, which, in both cases, happened almost immediately thanks to due diligence during trade negotiations.

In three campaigns with Winnipeg, Dubois compiled 143 points in 195 games. He was drafted third overall in 2016 by the Columbus Blue Jackets, who played him as an 18-year-old. In four seasons in Columbus, he had 159 points in 239 games.

Vilardi was a lottery pick one year later, taken 11th overall in 2017, but a serious back condition deprived him of development time. A season at center in 2021 for the Kings yielded mixed results, but a subsequent season in the minors reinvigorated Vilardi.

He moved to wing and excelled defensively, all while confirming the offensive potential the Kings’ scouts saw. In 2022-23 with the Kings, he notched 23 goals and 41 points in 63 games. His metrics were even stronger than his production. He was a top generator of high-danger scoring chances offensively while providing denials and all-around elite defensive support for the Kings.

Iafallo, an undrafted free agent who ascended to become a regular on the first line at one point, was a trusted, versatile winger for the Kings who was heavy on intangibles and capable of playing in all situations. He was requested by name by mainstays Kopitar and former captain Dustin Brown and called “a star” by Coach Todd McLellan at various points in his tenure.

But his departure was made necessary by his $4 million cap hit and seemed palatable given his tepid tangible production, having an average of just above 34 points over his past three seasons.

“On behalf of the entire L.A. Kings organization, we would like to thank Alex, Rasmus and Gabriel for their immense contributions both on and off the ice,” Kings president Luc Robitaille said in statement. “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 was linked to the Kings the first time he was traded, from Columbus to Winnipeg, but the Jets made a massive offer that included prolific young winger Patrik Laine. This time around, Blake got his man, and plenty of him, as Dubois checks in at 6-foot-4 and about 215 pounds.

With Kopitar, 35, heading toward a contract year imminently and a diminished role eventually, Dubois adds to a mix of centers that includes Kopitar, Phillip Danault and Quinton Byfield. Byfield converted to wing last season, though unlike Vilardi and leading goal-scorer Adrian Kempe, who also converted to wing, Byfield’s future will likely be back in the middle.

But the purge of roster forwards leaves the Kings thinner on the wings, and those five players along with Kevin Fiala should be among the highest priorities for ice time among Kings forwards. How the lineup is configured projects to be fluid, with Byfield and Dubois potentially spending significant time on the wing.

While the move is undoubtedly a big splash that solidifies the Kings’ top nine moving forward in the front office’s eyes, it also failed to address the void in goal as well as any other potentially pressing needs.

The Kings have only one goalie with NHL experience, Pheonix Copley, and he had not played regularly between 2019 and December of last season. What Blake does to address that need, both indirectly to create flexibility and directly to fill the void, remained to be seen Tuesday.