With Pierre-Luc Dubois benching last night vs the Tampa Bay Lightning, it looks like Dubois & Columbus are headed towards an ugly break-up. Could the Flyers swoop in & pull off a trade for Dubois?
According to The Athletics Pierre LeBrun, the Flyers are one of 12-teams that have inquired about the former #3 overall pick from 2016.
But, should the Flyers pursue a trade for Pierre-Luc Dubois?
While Pierre-Luc Dubois would add to the already deep Flyers center group, it would make it even more crowded. With three top centers already, Couturier-Hayes-Patrick, adding Dubois would do more to muddy the waters. Rather than take the Flyers to clean water.
With Sean Couturier & Kevin Hayes averaging 18:00-minutes a night and Nolan Patrick not far behind, minutes for Pierre-Luc Dubois would be scarce. Something that Dubois, who wants & expects to play top-6 minutes a night, seems to have taken personal in his time with Columbus.
Adding a player like Pierre-Luc Dubois makes the Flyers better. But, in the Flyers current setup, it doesn’t make too much sense. Especially with how Dubois has reacted to his benching’s in Columbus. Including his latest actions last night vs Tampa.
Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella said “you will know when I bench someone” after Dubois played only 2:00-minutes in the 2nd period of their 3-2 win over the Red Wings on Monday. That benching came last night.
After this shift, Pierre-Luc Dubois was benched & did not see another second of ice-time.
During that shift, Dubois showed no effort & was out-of-place multiple times. The topping of the cake came with Dubois, 6’3″, being out-hustled & out-forechecked by 5’9″ Tyler Johnson moments before he went off on a line-change.
This has been one of the main issues with Dubois in Columbus. Whenever Dubois doesn’t get his way, he stops playing & his effort becomes nonexistent. Which led to his benching last night.
Under head coach Alain Vigneault, multiple Flyers have been challenged similarly to how John Tortorella is challenging Pierre-Luc Dubois. But, their response wasn’t like Dubois. Their response was to put their best foot forward & prove to their coach why they deserve to play.
If the Flyers could add a guy like Pierre-Luc Dubois its good on the surface. But, the baggage Dubois would bring is too much of a risk. Especially with this not being the first time Dubois responding childishly to a benching or loss of ice-time.
Just remember, if Pierre-Luc Dubois is acting like this now, what makes you think he will not do it again if he doesn’t get his way in a new city?
Mark Friedman Good To Go
For the second consecutive game, the Flyers finished with only five defensemen. Mark Friedman being the latest injury on the Flyers blue-line.
But, head coach Alain Vigneault had some good news on Friedman today. Saying he believes Friedman will be good to go tomorrow.
If Friedman ends up not being able to play, the Flyers will have to make an emergency call-up for Nate Prosser or Derrik Pouliot from the taxi-squad.
Photo Credit : Jay LaPrete – AP
