Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has shocked many of the so-called experts who believed the Jets would get fleeced when they tried to deal unhappy RFA Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Dubois, who had long made it clear he wanted out of Winnipeg, signed an eight-year contract extension with an $8.5 million AAV, and then was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forwards Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, and Gabriel Vilardi along with Montreal’s second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Dubois had long talked about leaving Winnipeg and while some aspects of his play will be missed, he was simply too expensive and too inconsistent to be rewarded with $8.5 million per season on average. Although he is a solid two-way player, he had a penchant for blind passes and unfortunate turnovers. He had a solid year in 2021-22, but the Jets missed the playoffs. He was good most of the time in 2022-23, but faded into the mist in the final three games of the Jets brief playoff run.
He has twice requested a trade -- twice before the age of 25, by the way -- had no loyalty to either Columbus or Winnipeg and has never scored more than 28 goals or garnered more than 63 points in a season after seven years in the NHL. Big question: Is the 86th leading scorer in the NHL an $8.5 million-a-year player? Guess that remains to be seen.
In the meantime, the Jets got potential -- two 23-year-olds -- and Gabe Vilardi has a load of upside. Both Galardi and Kupari were first-round selections in the NHL Entry Draft. Although an RFA, Vilardi had 23 goals and 41 points in 63 games with limited power-play time. If he can stay healthy, he could be a superb centre.
Let's meet the new players, courtesy Scott Brown at the Winnipeg Jets:
Iafallo, 29, played 59 games for the Kings in 2022-23 and recorded 36 points (14G, 22A) and 20 penalty minutes, before adding four points (3G, 1A) and six PIMs in six playoff games. The Eden, NY native has played 420 career NHL games for Los Angeles and posted 204 points (85G, 119A) and 80 PIMs. Iafallo has played 16 career postseason games and scored five goals and four assists, along with 10 PIMs. He played four seasons with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, including a pair of campaigns with Jets defenceman Neal Pionk, and he recorded 121 points (48G, 73A) and 52 PIMs in 152 games.
Kupari, 23, played 66 games for the Kings in 2022-23 and recorded 15 points (3G, 12A) and 12 PIMs, while also playing in all six playoff games. The product of Kotka, Finland also featured in 11 games for the AHL’s Ontario Reign last season posting nine points (5G, 4A) and 22 PIMs. Kupari, Los Angeles’ first-round pick (20th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft, has played 130 career NHL games and has 29 points (9G, 20A) and 32 PIMs and he has recorded 48 points (24G, 24A) and 61 PIMs in 85 career games with the Reign.
Internationally, Kupari has represented Finland on numerous occasions, highlighted by three appearances at the World Junior Championships. He won gold with Finland at the 2019 tournament and he recorded five points (1G, 4A) over 13 games over the trio of World Junior tournaments.
Vilardi, 23, played 63 games for the Kings in 2022-23 and recorded 41 points (23G, 18A) and 18 PIMs, adding four points (2G, 2A) in five playoff games. The native of Kingston, Ont. has played 152 career NHL games for L.A. and posted 78 points (41G, 37A) and 36 PIMs. Vilardi, the Kings’ first-round pick (11th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft, has also played 75 games over parts of three seasons with AHL Ontario and has 64 points (24G, 40A) and 32 PIMs.
Vilardi spent his three-year junior career in the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires and Kingston Frontenacs and he recorded 157 points (68G, 89A) and 40 PIMs in 143 games. He also had 32 points (14G, 18A) in 28 OHL playoff games and he was on the Spitfires team with Jets defenceman Logan Stanley that won the 2017 Memorial Cup. Vilardi made the tournament all-star team after posting seven assists in four games for Windsor. Internationally, he won gold for Canada at the 2021 World Championships and recorded one assist and six PIMs in 10 games.
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