Articles / Dubois will be 'best teammate I can be' with Blue Jackets

Dubois will be 'best teammate I can be' with Blue Jackets

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NHL.com
Jan 3, 2021 10:24 PM

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  • Pierre-Luc Dubois would not confirm a report that he wanted to be traded, but the Columbus Blue Jackets center instead said he will focus on this season after signing a two-year, $10 million contract Thursday.
  • The Athletic reported Thursday that Dubois, who was a restricted free agent, "may be looking for a change of scenery." The Blue Jackets announced later that day that they had re-signed Dubois, allowing him to report on time for a physical at training camp Sunday.
  • With training camp practices beginning Monday, coach John Tortorella said the Blue Jackets will handle Dubois' situation in the same open manner they did when forward Artemi Panarin and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky each was in the final season of his contract in 2018-19.
  • Kekalainen said the Blue Jackets also discussed three- and eight-year contracts with Dubois and his agent, Pat Brisson, but they preferred two years.
  • When asked if he thinks Dubois wants to remain with the Blue Jackets long-term, Kekalainen said, "I think that's a question for him, not for me.