Last summer, rumors ignited discussions surrounding Quebecois forward Pierre-Luc Dubois, hinting at a potential trade within the Montreal Canadiens.
Ultimately, it was the Los Angeles Kings who struck a deal with him, awarding him a massive $68 million contract over eight years.
However, since his arrival in California, Dubois has underperformed, tallying just 16 goals and 24 assists in 82 games, his worst career output.
This situation raises the question of whether sometimes the best trades are the ones not made, as seems to be the case for the Montreal Canadiens, who could have been involved in Dubois' acquisition.
However, league rules regarding the player's age at the time of buyout could influence this decision, as a buyout executed after his 26th birthday would cost more.