BLOCKBUSTER TRADE HELPS COLUMBUS, WINNIPEG

TORONTO, ON -- Hey, NHL fan, you wanted an NBA-style blockbuster trade? You got it. Pierre-Luc Dubois, Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic all got their wish, too. They are now on new teams thanks to a mega-trade that seemed destined from the get-go.

When the Columbus Blue Jackets and Winnipeg Jets finalized their three-player, one draft pick trade early Saturday, the hockey world shook as two young top-line stars in Dubois and Laine were swapped for one another, with Roslovic returning home. These two clubs discussed a deal back in the off-season and it became apparent this deal was in the offing barring another team swooping in at the last minute.

Several teams had legitimate interest in both Dubois and Laine over the past few months.

The Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens were part of the Dubois sweepstakes right until the end, with at least 16 other teams also highly interested throughout the process – the Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings among them. Additional teams with significant interest in Laine were the Flyers, Kings, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders.

It was clear from the start that Winnipeg wanted a top-pair defenceman or a top-line centre in a deal for Laine, while Columbus wanted a top-line player for Dubois. Both teams achieved their goals.

The Jets have impressive depth at the centre position with Dubois, Mark Scheifele, Paul Stastny and Adam Lowry. I imagine Jets head coach Paul Maurice will keep Scheifele together with captain Blake Wheeler and left wing Kyle Connor, which means Dubois could centre a line with Nikolai Ehlers and Andrew Copp. That’s a nifty top-six.

The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, have options. Max Domi is one the team’s top-two centermen, but there is no established centre behind the Montreal import. Will Liam Foudy get a shot up the middle, or will the Jackets stick with Alexandre Texier? Both were drafted as centres, though Foudy has played the left wing and Texier has gone back to centre in the last couple of games. Would Laine line up well alongside Foudy and Texier? I wouldn’t mind if head coach John Tortorella gives that a shot.

Roslovic was added to the team’s COVID-19 protocol list Saturday morning and will be eligible to join his team for practice on Monday, providing he clears. He could see action on the right wing or at centre – Mikko Koivu is set to join the team Tuesday and that could force Roslovic to the wing, at least this season.

I like this trade for both teams. It gives them options and changes the look of both clubs for the better.

Dubois has another year left on his contract and I’m sure Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff will want to get him locked into a long-term extension as soon as he can – earliest date he can do that is July 28. Laine, however, can become a restricted free agent this summer, but his agent Andy Scott and Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen have already started talking about a new deal.

As for the runners up in the Dubois and Laine sweepstakes, they’ll have to shift their attention elsewhere.

The Kings, for example, have made it clear they’re willing to make a move for a player that fits their direction – Laine would have been a nice addition – and I’m sure GM Rob Blake will keep his eyes open should any other young stars hit the market this season. However, I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were a Kings fan. Any major move is more likely to occur in the off-season.

Montreal GM Marc Bergevin made it clear neither Alexander Romanov nor Nick Suzuki were up for grabs, but Jesperi Kotkaniemi was part of discussions with Columbus. The Habs really like Kotkaniemi, however, and aren’t trying to move him – this was a unique circumstance given Dubois’ availability.

My understanding is Anaheim and Calgary’s interests in Dubois started in the off-season. The Ducks’ package was more prospects based, I believe, while Calgary’s deal could’ve been a biggie if things came to fruition – the Flames also had interest in Josh Anderson before Columbus dealt him to the Habs for Domi.

I’m not sure how many more blockbuster trades we’ll see this season in advance of the trade deadline hoopla, but this move definitely set the bar. If the current quarantine measures aren’t relaxed by April, teams will effectively be making moves to bolster their playoff run as opposed to helping their chances of getting into post-season play.

• Will Oliver Ekman-Larsson entertain a move again?

• Do the Wild take another stab at shopping Matt Dumba?

• Could the Flames deal Johnny Gaudreau?

• Will the Boston Bruins grab a top-pair left defenceman?

• Can anyone convince the Florida Panthers to deal Aleksander Barkov or Jonathan Huberdeau?

• Should the Edmonton Oilers take calls on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Adam Larsson, both in the final years of their current contracts, if they fall out of the playoff race?

• What do the Buffalo Sabres with Taylor Hall if they’re also out of the playoff hunt come April?

• Will the Sabres or Chicago Blackhawks pay up for Elvis Merzlikins?

• Could Duncan Keith decide to waive his NMC?

• Do I need to settle down?

At least one of those questions will be answered in the affirmative.

Enjoy your Saturday.