Pierre-Luc Dubois is asking for $9 million per season

The Athletic has published an interesting text in which we discover the latest information concerning the Pierre-Luc Dubois file.

Basically, the article states that Dubois will submit a list of five or six teams to which he would like to be traded. The Jets’ plan would be to offer him a long-term contract and then trade him, much as the Flames did with Matthew Tkachuk last summer.

“Montreal will be on the list,” wrote Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin in the text. No surprise there.

However, the discussion takes a different turn when we come to read the bit about his potential salary demands. Godin and Basu stated that the Quebecer will probably seek a salary in the neighbourhood of $9 million annually, and that he could possibly take less money to join a Stanley Cup contender…

But it would be surprising to see him ask for less money if he signs with Montreal because the team is rebuilding, even if it is his preferred destination.

It doesn’t look like Pierre-Luc Dubois would take a “hometown discount” for the Habs.

Thoughts? 🤔

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– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) June 8, 2023

It’s a big deal.

And, $9 million annually is a lot of money.

This week, Kent Hughes made it clear that the organization wanted Cole Caufield to make less money than Nick Suzuki, the team captain and highest paid forward.

This raises the question of whether Dubois would accept less money to come to Montreal, given Hughes’ desire to respect the salary hierarchy…

But Arpon Basu provided some clues, saying that Dubois’ situation, compared to Caufield’s, is not the same, since the latter was coming out of his NHL entry-level contract.

What we understand, then, is that Hughes would probably not hesitate to give more money to a player like Dubois, who is a year away from complete autonomy.

I ask you: Pierre-Luc Dubois, at $9 million per season…

Yes or no?

I’m thinking more towards the second option, for the simple reason that the Habs would have a lot of players with big salaries up front.

Let’s not forget that the likes of Guhle, Xhekaj, Slafkovsky and even Dach will be eligible to sign new contracts within the next three years, and that’s where it gets particularly complicated.

Yes, the salary cap is likely to go up in the next few years, but Kent Hughes shouldn’t have his hands tied either.

For now, all we can do is keep a close eye on the matter…

Because there’s always a twist. At least, since last night, the case has taken on enormous proportions, and it’s unlikely to calm down in the next few days.

Extension

Let’s go back briefly to the list of teams he’ll have to submit to the Jets. This lunchtime, Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talked about the Canadiens, Rangers and Wild.

Did they see these clubs as the current favourites to obtain his services? The question arises.