Pierre-Luc Dubois is a strong, independent Canadian, and he don't need no Artemi Panarin.
We knew Dubois was good - but since he had been playing with world-class Artemi Panarin, how good was he (many asked)?
85 is way too high for you
— Jake - PensCenterIce (@PensCenterIce) August 23, 2019
Atkinson and Dubois were truly Panarin merchants
— (@SAS_CBJ) November 13, 2019
Atkinson and Duboiss stats were not very good without Panarin. Figured offense would be tough to come by but goaltending is certainly tough too.
— Marco - #KeefeisGood (@WTFMAN999) October 6, 2019
The start of the 2019-2020 campaign for Dubois in a Columbus Blue Jacket sweater fed into many of his doubters. Likely the same ones that criticized his No. 3 overall picking in the 2016 NHL entry draft.
With just 18 points through 31 games, Dubois was clearly having a bit of trouble adjusting to life without his Russian superstar linemate. Though, to be fair, everyone on the Blue Jackets seemed to be underperforming. Dubois stood out a little more since his real success had not come without Panarin on his wing.
That success being Dubois is the fastest Blue Jacket ever to 100 points, and tallying 48 points and 61 in his first two seasons. The future looked bright for the 21-year-old.
However, his 18 points through 31 games this season had him on pace to just barely match his rookie-year total. Yes, he was still very young, but perhaps not as budding as we thought.
Then, he, like a lot of other skaters on the club, kicked it into high gear. In his last 22 games, Dubois has racked up 24 points and is on pace to hit the 70-point mark, joining only a handful of former Blue Jackets to do so.
PLD is able to do it all by himself to make it 2-0. Grown man play. pic.twitter.com/oSJpIUeYnC#CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 2, 2020
Dubois is also shooting at a ridiculous club-leading 14.7%, which is top-45 in the league amongst all forwards who have played at least 50 games. He is also comfortably leading Columbus in total point shares and offensive point shares and is fifth in defensive point shares (and most among forwards).
PLD makes the most of a Price mistake and beats him on the wraparound.pic.twitter.com/qZU0CLuYQw#CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 2, 2020
Adapting to a new environment is hard for anyone - and it certainly was not only for Dubois but the whole Blue Jacket club. The spotlight was a bit more on Dubois, though, as many prayed on his downfall when losing Panarin.
Now, he is proving himself the ability to carry his own weight, and the weight of the Blue Jackets' offense - as they take larger strides to a fourth-straight postseason bid.
