Dubois: “I didn't ask for a trade.”

For the second time in his career, third time if you count his time in the QMJHL, star forward Pierre Luc Dubois is at the center of a trade request controversy.

Dubois, of course, formally requested a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets back in 2020, which ultimately ended up with him getting moved to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for superstar Patrik Laine. Now, there are reports that Dubois now wants out of Winnipeg and that he has formally requested a trade.

Not so though, say Dubois himself.

There have been reports recently that Dubois is trying to push for a trade to his hometown Montreal Canadiens and some members of the media reported that Dubois' attendance at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal was just further proof of him putting pressure on the Jets. Nonsense though, says Dubois. He claims he was simply at the Draft because he loves watching the Draft and it happened to be in his hometown where he's spending his offseason. As for the Jets, he simply informed them that he'll be testing free agency in 2023... he never requested a trade.

More from Dubois himself:

"I read some things. It's funny. Frustrating sometimes to read them. But I saw a thing where it's like I went to the Draft thinking I was going to get traded. I went to the Draft because I live 15 minutes from the arena. I'm a fan of hockey. My bank invited me, they had a box with food and dinner. It was an entertaining night. I used to go to Drafts when I was a kid. If I was invited to go with the Jets, I would have gone with them but I got invited by my bank so I went with them. You hear stuff like I want out of Winnipeg. If I wanted out, I would have asked for a trade. I didn't ask for a trade. Not for one second. It didn't cross my mind for one second to ask for a trade. So you just see these things. Nowadays with social media it goes so fast. Articles come out every second, and some of them are 99 percent wrong. You still read it and still wonder if it's true. There's been a lot a lot a LOT of speculation. So now I'm finally happy you get to hear it from me, from the source: the man himself."

Pierre Luc Dubous

So there you have it... no trade request. But, let's get real... by informing the Jets that he'll be leaving as a free agent next offseason, he doesn't have to submit a trade request. The writing is on the wall and now it's up to GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to get back some value before Dubois leaves for nothing.