Blue Jackets sign Dubois to two-year extension
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed center Pierre-Luc Dubois to a two-year, $10 million contract extension through the 2021-22 National Hockey League season, club General Manager and Alternate Governor Jarmo Kekalainen announced Thursday. Dubois will earn $3.5 million during the 2020-21 season and $6.5 million in the second year of the deal.
Dubois, 22, has registered 65 goals and 93 assists for 158 points with 162 penalty minutes and a cumulative +22 plus/minus rating in 234 career games with the Blue Jackets since making his NHL debut in 2017-18. The center, who has not missed a game during his first three seasons, has recorded two 20-goal and 30-assist campaigns during his young NHL career. He is the fastest Blue Jackets player to record 100 career points to begin his NHL career, accomplishing the feat in 143 games (Nikolai Zherdev, 156 GP).
“Pierre-Luc is a talented, young player with great potential, and we look forward to his continued growth and development, and the valuable contributions he will bring to our team,” said Kekalainen. “I’d like to thank my staff, as well as Pat Brisson and his group, for their professionalism and efforts to finalize this agreement prior to the start of training camp to ensure that the focus moving forward is on our team and achieving its goals for the upcoming season.”
A native of St-Agathe-Des-Monts, Quebec, Dubois posted 18-31-49 ad 49 penalty minutes in 70 games in 2019-20. He led the club in assists and points and ranked second in game-winning goals (four, tied), penalty minutes and multi-point efforts (nine). He went on to lead the team in goals, assists and points during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, finishing with 4-6-10 in 10 outings.
“I’m excited to have the contract done and to be able to get back on the ice and play hockey again, especially with everything that is going on in the world right now,” said Dubois. “I’m very fortunate and looking forward to being with my teammates at camp and the start of a new season.”
The Blue Jackets’ first round selection, third overall, at the 2016 NHL Draft, Dubois set career highs in 2018-19 with 27-34-61 in 82 games to rank fourth on the team in goals (tied) and points. He set franchise single-season rookie records in goals, points and games played, while ranking seventh-T among NHL rookies in goals and eighth in assists and points with 20-28-48 in 82 contests in 2017-18.
The 6-3, 218-pound center has represented Canada at several international tournaments, including the 2018 and 2019 (silver) IIHF World Championships, 2017 IIHF World Junior Championships (silver) as well as 2015 IIHF U18 World Championships (bronze). He also racked up 73-126-199, 248 penalty minutes and was +61 in 164 career games with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 2016-18.
(Columbus Blue Jackets press release)
