A glance at Pierre-Luc Dubois' trajectory shows his propensity for short stays with teams. Originally picked by the Blue Jackets in 2016, he only spent three seasons there, citing discontent. Then, history repeated itself in Winnipeg, only for him to ink a substantial eight-year, $68,000,000 deal with Los Angeles.
Recently, Dubois opened up about his swift transitions, the whispers that have followed, and why he decided to commit long-term at this stage of his career.
In a candid chat with The Athletic, Dubois addressed his decision to exit the Jets, quashing speculations of his displeasure with Winnipeg.
"I think, where I was going in my career and in my life I'm 25. I've said this before but eight years is a long time. I don't know how I'm going to feel in three years. But I felt like, for me, L.A. was a city where I could be happy for the duration of the contract. I could be happy playing here. I could be myself here. It was a hard decision to make but, like I said, I would never speak ill of Winnipeg or say I didn't enjoy my time there because I did."
So it wasn't Winnipeg, then?
"That's the main thing I would say if you asked me what I wanted people to understand: You can like two things at the same time. You can appreciate two different things at the same time. It's not that you choose one so you hate the other. That's what I think got misconstrued in the whole process."
At 25, Dubois sought a location where he'd feel at ease for the next eight years. Los Angeles was the answer. As of now, Dubois seems to be relishing his choice.
