CBJ Top 25 under 25: #8 Pierre-Luc Dubois

The 2016 NHL draft is going to be a pivotal moment in Blue Jackets history, for better or for worse. It all centers around Pierre-Luc Dubois. Dubois was a surprise selection by the Jackets in this year’s entry draft after they passed over consensus #3 pick Jesse Puljujarvi. The Jackets have stated multiple times publicly that they were trying to move the pick so they could take Dubois at a lower slot emphasizing that he was their player all along. Either way, the Jackets have Dubois on their team, the question now is will he ever be able to live up to the fan hype?

Dubois, regardless of draft ranking, was an absolute monster last year in the QMJHL. He was the highest scoring draft eligible player in his league and was third overall in scoring in the QMJHL last year. It isn’t only his size and skating ability that sets him apart from everyone else, it is how he reads and processes the game. When trying to compare him to anyone in modern hockey, it is very tough to do.

As you can see in the highlights above, he is a player that can be a bull down low, a sniper from the circle or a finesse skater when he chooses to be. The versatility is amazing to see on display. He showed flashes of it in Traverse City, where he turned some heads on a play that called for some power skating and a net front goal. It is part of the reason why the Jackets decided to select him because they knew that he could be versatile enough to play anywhere and do anything.

Half way through last season with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, Dubois moved over to center and played reasonably well given the position change. Given the Jackets weakness down the middle, the Jackets jumped at the chance to select a player that could kill two birds with one stone. He can play anywhere for the time being and has a chance to be a difference maker. If he ends up doing this all from the center position, so be it. Unlike other people out there, I don’t think it is an absolute slam dunk putting him at center for his entire career. But, his dynamic play could afford him that luxury.

His dominance in the QMJHL, while great, does raise some questions. Dubois has been a man among boys in that league and was able to push others off the puck, the ability to do so is great but he won’t have that type of luxury in the NHL. Could he possibly face some adversity trying to adjust his game to the pro level? It isn’t a question that doesn’t necessarily need to be asked right now but could make for an interesting test if he is given the 9 game trial period with the Blue Jackets.

Future Outlook

If Dubois ends up getting the 9 games before he is sent down to the QMJHL, I think he will do just fine. I don’t expect him to dominate from the drop of the puck in the NHL. I do believe once he gets back to the Screaming Eagles that he has a chance to be otherworldly. Averaging over 1.5 points per game last year, it wouldn’t surprise me if Dubois hit the 2 point per game mark this upcoming season. He is physically more mature than the other players in the league and it will make for good developmental fodder for him as he tests out the center position.