nhl.com
Pierre-Luc Dubois, Photo from NHL.com
Daily, fans hear of yawner transactions involving bench-sitters or minor leaguers going from one team to another in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick two years from now, or some such blah, blah, blah, but the Jets-Columbus deal had some flair and razzmatazz to it.
On one side you have Laine, the blond-haired Finnish speedster with the big shot who came to the Jets with the No. 2 overall pick in 2016, and proceeded to live up to his billing — scoring 36, 44, 30 and 28 goals in his first four seasons. On the other side you have Dubois, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound centre who was selected No. 3 overall in the same year as Laine, and, after one more season in junior hockey, validated his credentials with seasons of 48, 61, and 49 points with the Blue Jackets.
Other than their offensive skills, Laine and Dubois both had one other similarity: For different reasons, they both wanted a change of scenery.
Reasons given for their unhappiness were never fully exposed. Laine, it’s believed, felt he deserved more time on the Jets’ No. 1 line with centre Mark Scheifele. Dubois reportedly had personality conflicts with coach John Tortorella (no surprise) and let the team know early he wanted a new mailing address.
When the inevitable trade was announced Jan. 24, both players expressed relief, and happiness. Laine would certainly be given top-line minutes in Columbus, one of the lowest-scoring teams in the NHL, and he would be playing under a familiar general manager, Jarmo Kekalainen, from his home country. Dubois, on the other hand, gives the Jets a strong one-two punch at centre (with Scheifele) and is one of those rare players who welcomed a move to ‘Winterpeg’ because his folks live in the Manitoba capital. His father, Eric, is an assistant coach with the Manitoba Moose.
Due to quarantine regulations, Dubois was expected to be on the sidelines for two full weeks before being allowed to join his new team-mates; Laine, however, had only a few days’ restrictions before joining the Blue Jackets.
To settle the ‘who won the trade’ discussions, fans will be watching the two players’ stats with great scrutiny. But the winner in a trade like this can’t be measured in one season. Let’s look at it again five years from now and see who’s ahead.
Patti Dawn Swansson, aka the River City Renegade: “The Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament will have no pro-am component this year. Which makes it what? The Pebble Beach Bill Murray Has To Go Somewhere Else To Act Like A Complete Jackass This Year Open?”
@Mahoganyguy, on Twitter, after Tampa Bay beat Green Bay to advance to the Super Bowl: “You just saw ‘The Brady Bunch’ beat the Packers in ‘Mr Rodgers’ Neighbourhood.’”
Columnist Phil Mushnick, in the New York Post, quoting a former Yankee: “But remember the wisdom of former Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain, who said, ‘At the end of the day, the sun comes up.’”
Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: “O.J. Simpson just posted a video of him getting the COVID-19 vaccination. Apparently priority is given to double-murderers over the age of 72.”
Another one from Kaseberg: “The Super Bowl features the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Both teams will have to change their offensive nicknames soon. Tampa Bay will be the Nautical Entrepreneurs and Kansas City will be the Native American Bureaucrats.”
Headline at @NOTSportsCenter: “BREAKING: Deshaun Watson rushed to a Houston hospital for extensive concussion testing and brain exams after saying his No. 1 preference was to play for the New York Jets.”
Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “Among the worst reported Valentine’s Day gifts, according to Dating.com, are wilted flowers, a pet hamster and an online workout subscription. Somehow not making the list: Jets season tickets.”
Headline at TheOnion.com: “Home gym equipment is still sold out everywhere, man hopes.”
At Fark.com, on Amanda Gorman slated to recite an original poem at this year’s Super Bowl: “Inaugural poet astounds / Her work’s just as good as it sounds / She’s won a new role, at her first Super Bowl / And that puts her one up on the Browns.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid, to reporters, on his 18 NFL seasons working alongside new Texans coach David Culley: “We had a few cheeseburgers together.’’
Another one from Kaseberg, via Twitter, on a potential Packers-Chiefs matchup being a rematch of the first Super Bowl, in 1967: “So much has changed since then. The Rolling Stones were on tour, McDonalds was the most popular fast food and the country was bitterly divided politically.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
- Bruce Penton
Disclaimer: opinions expressed are those of the writer.
