Center Pierre-Luc Dubois was acquired by the Los Angeles Kings from the Winnipeg Jets on June 27, adding to their already strong center depth with Anze Kopitar and Phillip Danault. The trade sent forwards Gabriel Vilardi and Alex Iafallo to the Jets, and Vilardi could be a fantasy sleeper in a much bigger role than he had with the Kings -- potentially even on the top line.
Dubois, who signed an eight-year contract after the trade, had an NHL career-high 63 points (27 goals, 36 assists) in 73 games this season and was a top 100 overall fantasy player (90th) in standard leagues because of his strong category coverage in power-play points (23), shots on goal (205) and hits (71; 1.3 per game in career). The 25-year-old has reached the 60-point mark three times in six NHL seasons.
A strong Stanley Cup Playoff performer, Dubois had four points (two goals, two assists) in five games during the 2023 postseason with the Jets and 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 10 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2020. Dubois boosts the Stanley Cup futures appeal of the Kings, who have made the playoffs in consecutive seasons, losing to the high-scoring Edmonton Oilers in each.
Dubois remains a fringe top 100 overall player after the trade with the realistic chance of playing on a line with valuable wing Kevin Fiala, who was better than a point per game (72 in 69 games) and led Los Angeles in assists (49) this season.
Vilardi, 23, could bring exposure to elite wing Kyle Connor and/or Nikolaj Ehlers in Winnipeg depending on whether Vilardi plays center or wing and should be targeted in the top 150 overall in fantasy drafts and even higher in keeper and dynasty leagues. Vilardi played mostly in the middle six and missed time because of injury but still had NHL career highs in points (41 in 63 games), goals (23) and power-play points (nine) this season. Iafallo, who has also been fantasy-relevant in the past depending on his lineup placement, had 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 59 games with Los Angeles this season and had their fifth most shots on goal per game (2.25).
