While it's not a major surprise, the Blue Jackets have apparently made a decision regarding their top prospect.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, who made the team this fall after earning a spot in training camp, will remain in Columbus beyond his 10th NHL game. TSN's Bob McKenzie first reported the news during an insider segment on NBC Sports Network, which aired during the first intermission of Wednesday's game between the Blue Jackets and Buffalo Sabres.
What does that mean? It means Dubois is sticking in the NHL for the foreseeable future. If he were to play only nine games, the Blue Jackets could return him to his junior hockey team and not spend a year against his three-year, entry level contract.
It seems they've seen enough to keep him around.
The 19-year-old Dubois, who is playing wing for the Blue Jackets (they drafted him with the intention of using him at center), has one goal in nine games but is making a good account of himself at even strength; Dubois is +31 in 5-on-5 shot attempts (58.8%) and played a season-high 15:38 on Oct. 7 in Chicago.
Following practice on Thursday, Dubois revealed to media that GM Jarmo Kekalainen has told him to find a place to live: he's in Columbus for the season.
#CBJ GM Jarmo Kekalainen pulled aside Pierre-Luc Dubois on Tuesday to deliver the magic words to a rookie: You should get a place."
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) October 26, 2017
The Blue Jackets had not confirmed McKenzie's report as of late Wednesday, but the team does not play its 10th game of the season until Friday night against the Winnipeg Jets at Nationwide Arena.
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