The Story of the 2016 NHL Draft’s Third Overall Pick
The Hockey Resource Operations AI™ presents: NHL Draft Career Files™
Drafted to Be a Franchise Center
When the Columbus Blue Jackets surprised many NHL observers by selecting Pierre-Luc Dubois third overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, they passed over several highly skilled players to draft a complete, two-way center they believed could anchor their franchise for years.
At just 18 years old, Dubois already possessed an NHL-ready frame, strong skating ability, physicality, and a mature defensive game. While Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine received most of the attention heading into the draft, Columbus believed Dubois’ complete game would make him a cornerstone player.
Ten years later, his career has followed a different path than many expected.
Draft Information
Draft Year: 2016
Overall Selection: 3rd Overall
Drafted By: Columbus Blue Jackets
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Birthplace: Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec
Early Years in Columbus (2017–2021)
Dubois quickly justified Columbus’ confidence.
Rather than easing into the NHL, he immediately demonstrated the ability to play against top competition.
His strengths became obvious.
- Strong on the puck
- Excellent skater for his size
- Reliable in all three zones
- Difficult to play against
- Capable of producing offensively while handling defensive responsibilities
Unlike many young stars whose value comes primarily from scoring, Dubois became known as a complete center capable of matching up against the opposition’s best players.
By only his second NHL season, he had established himself as one of Columbus’ most important players.
Breakout Performance
The defining moment of Dubois’ early career came during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Facing the heavily favored Toronto Maple Leafs in the qualifying round, Dubois dominated stretches of the series, using his size, skating, and determination to lead Columbus.
His performance demonstrated exactly why the Blue Jackets had drafted him so highly.
He wasn’t simply a scorer.
He was a player capable of controlling games.
The Trade That Changed Everything
Every NHL career reaches turning points.
For Dubois, that moment came in January 2021.
After requesting a trade from Columbus, he was dealt to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic.
Ironically, Dubois and Laine—selected second and third in the same draft—were traded for each other less than five years into their NHL careers.
The move generated enormous expectations.
Winnipeg believed Dubois could become their long-term number-one center.
Winnipeg Years (2021–2023)
After an adjustment period, Dubois played some of the best hockey of his career.
He consistently produced offensively while continuing to handle difficult defensive assignments.
His combination of:
- Size
- Physicality
- Speed
- Faceoff ability
- Net-front presence
made him one of the league’s most effective power forwards.
When fully engaged, Dubois demonstrated why NHL general managers value big centers so highly.
Players with his combination of skill and strength remain among hockey’s rarest assets.
Another Major Move
In 2023, Dubois was traded again—this time to the Los Angeles Kings.
The Kings envisioned him becoming a foundational piece of their future.
However, his tenure in Los Angeles proved shorter than expected.
Following one season, he was moved again, highlighting the reality that NHL careers rarely unfold exactly as planned.
Frequent trades can be difficult for any player, requiring constant adaptation to new coaches, teammates, systems, and expectations.
The Washington Opportunity
Dubois later joined the Washington Capitals, where he embraced a new role within an experienced veteran group.
Rather than trying to carry a franchise, he focused on becoming a dependable two-way center who could contribute in every situation.
For many players, maturity brings a better understanding that success isn’t always measured solely by goals and assists.
Winning hockey games requires players who can perform every aspect of the game.
Looking Back After Ten Years
After a decade in the NHL, Dubois has developed into exactly what scouts projected.
He may never become a 100-point superstar.
But he has become something every NHL team covets:
A big, versatile center who can play in every situation.
Those players are incredibly difficult to acquire.
His career has included:
- Multiple 60-point seasons
- Hundreds of NHL games
- Playoff success
- International experience
- Several high-profile trades
- Leadership roles
- Consistent top-six minutes
That represents a successful NHL career by any objective measure.
What Young Players Can Learn
Pierre-Luc Dubois’ career teaches valuable lessons that extend beyond statistics.
Complete Players Stay Valuable
Scoring matters.
Playing both ends of the ice matters even more.
Adaptability Is Essential
Different teams require different roles.
The best professionals adjust.
Size Must Be Used
Dubois has learned that his greatest advantage isn’t simply being big.
It’s using that size effectively every shift.
Careers Aren’t Always Linear
Many young players expect every season to improve on the last.
Professional hockey doesn’t work that way.
Trades, coaching changes, injuries, and new teammates constantly reshape careers.
Career Grade (First 10 Years)
Offensive Production
A−
Consistent contributor capable of producing top-six offense.
Defensive Play
A
Reliable, trusted center against quality competition.
Physical Play
A
Uses his size effectively when engaged.
Leadership
B+
Still growing into a veteran leadership role.
Consistency
B
At times dominant.
At times difficult to project from season to season.
Overall Career Grade
A−
Pierre-Luc Dubois may not have become the franchise superstar some envisioned on draft day, but after ten NHL seasons he has built a career that every young hockey player should respect.
He has proven he belongs among the NHL’s top centers, adapting to multiple organizations while remaining a valuable contributor. His journey demonstrates that success isn’t defined solely by individual awards or scoring titles. It is measured by the ability to stay in the league, earn the trust of coaches, and continue making an impact year after year.
For the Columbus Blue Jackets, selecting Dubois third overall in 2016 was a defensible choice. Ten years later, he remains one of the defining players from that draft class and a strong example of the value of becoming a complete hockey player rather than focusing on only one aspect of the game.
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