If Columbus trades Pierre-Luc Dubois, Florida Panthers should be in mix

Columbus center Pierre-Luc Dubois has made it clear he wants out of central Ohio. The Florida Panthers would have obvious interest in bringing him to Sunrise.

The cost would be pretty big, sure, but the return could be huge.

Editor: This story originally ran Jan. 14 and has been updated.

Dubois, just 22, has emerged as one of the better two-way centers in the NHL since the Blue Jackets surprisingly took him with the third overall pick in 2016.

In three seasons with the Jackets, he has scored 20 goals twice — and was close last year before things were called to a halt.

Bringing him to Florida would give the Panthers a 1-2 punch at center most teams in the NHL would be envious of.