Quoting: Campabee
I apologise I missed where you said comparable points, I read it as you were saying no matter what a 60 point center was more valuable than a winger.
The Wild did have to trade Fiala due to cap constraints but saying that the Jets don't have to trade PLD is not entirely accurate, the Jets absolutely have to trade PLD if they don't want him to walk for free in FA. PLD has already expressed his interest in testing FA and has already said he does not wish to sign long-term in Winnipeg. So the Jets do have to trade PLD unless they want to get nothing for him, which I do not think is a reasonable assumption. PLD will be traded in a distress situation from a team that knows they have no possible way of keeping him past 2023-24. The Jets will be needing to move him for the best offer that they can get or they lose him for nothing, time is the enemy for the Jets. Also the fact that most teams (I would say 80-90% of the league) aren't going to trade significant assets (2 1sts +) for a guy they know is rumored to only be willing to sign long-term in Montreal. Even at next year's deadline the max that a team will pay for a rental is a 1st + maybe a 2nd more likely a 3rd or B prospect. The Jets simply do not have the leverage you believe they do. There likely won't be as large of a market as you think there will be.
Once again, you are assuming a few things that outright, blatantly false.
PLD has NEVER said he would not resign in Winnipeg. Only that he wants to get to UFA to evaluate things then before he signs long-term anywhere.
Why would the Jets trade him to a team that will only have him for one year? With the information we have now, Dubois has said that winning is the most important thing, there will be plenty of teams that will be interested in him and where he is willing to extend long-term. The Jets will just trade him to one of those teams. It won't be for full value, but should still be a fair return.
Dubois has NEVER said he is only willing to sign long-term in Montreal. Hockey is a business and PLD wants to make money, as evidenced by wanting to get to UFA to maximize his earning potential. You're fooling yourself if you think that when some US team with great weather, lifestyle and a better tax situation tells his agent they're willing to pay him this much, that he's going to tell them to pound sand, I'm going to Montreal for whatever they deem is fair to pay me. Of all the things that are possibilities, that is right at the very bottom verging on almost completely improbable.
Dubois actually came out and said that his agent's comments were overblown by media and fans.
Dubois HAS said though that winning is the most important thing to him. That being the case would mean Montreal will be on the outside looking in at a PLD deal.
I'm not saying It's impossible that he ends up in Montreal, just that it is highly unlikely based on the facts and actual statements we have from Dubois at this time that Montreal is the only place he wants to play.