Jets appear to be frontrunners

Pierre-Luc Dubois is unhappy with the Columbus Blue Jackets and has requested a trade. Here’s the latest…

Jan. 23, 10:29 a.m.

A Dubois trade appears to be more and more imminent, with the Winnipeg Jets emerging as the front-runner to land the center’s services, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.

Jan. 22, 3:46 p.m.

The Rangers, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals, and Arizona Coyotes have inquired about the possibility of trading for Dubois, reports Pierre LeBrun of TSN.

Per LeBrun, the trade won’t be a “futures only” deal, with the Blue Jackets wanting it to be a “hockey deal.”

Jan. 8, 3:08 p.m.

There is “no question” that the Rangers will check in with the Blue Jackets about Dubois, reports Pierre LeBrun of TSN.

“Eventually, I’m guessing next summer, the Rangers are going to get around to finding another top-6 centre for their talented lineup,” LeBrun said. “Can you imagine if that’s Dubois? A 1-2 punch at centre of Mika Zibanejad and Dubois and all that talent on the wings… Yikes.

“There’s absolutely no question in my mind the Rangers will be among the many teams who check in with Columbus. The fly in the ointment is that Columbus ideally would rather avoid trading within their own (normal) division. So there’s that. But as far as a need and fit, this is a good one.”