Wiebe Report: Expectation is Jansen Harkins to be part of a potential Dubois trade between Jets and Kings

The chatter about a potential Pierre-Luc Dubois trade from the Jets to the Kings heated up last night and resumed this morning as the expectation is that the agent for Dubois and the Kings are currently talking about an extension.

The rumoured return for Dubois is 11th overall pick in 2017 Gabe Vilardi and six year pro Alex Iafallo. There are more pieces expected but those seem to be the two names most commonly mentioned.

Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet is reporting that he expects 2015 2nd rounder Jansen Harkins to be part of a deal going back to L.A. if the two sides are able to consummate a trade.

Here is what Kenny tweeted:

“Expecting F Jansen Harkins to be involved in the deal between #NHLJets and #LAKings if they can get it to the finish line. Harkins posted big numbers with #MBMoose of #AHL and is on a 1 year, one-way deal w/$850,000 AAV, valuable for a team like LA that is close to cap ceiling.”

Cannot say I am surprised by this news as it was clear that Harkins likely needed a change of scenery/new opportunity to establish himself as an NHLer but he was a beast for the Moose during the 2022-23 campaign. He posted 25 goals and 25 assists in 44 games.

This was from my piece on his end of season media availability:

For the first time in three years Jansen Harkins found himself back in the AHL. The Jets 2015 2nd rounder graduated from that league after an excellent 2019-20 season with the Moose where he was a point per game player (31 points in 30 games). He would go on to play 29 games for the Jets that season which included scoring his first regular season NHL goal as well as a playoff goal (vs the Flames in the bubble).

Harkins would play 26 games the following season in the NHL with Winnipeg during the covid shortened year (56 game schedule) and then really get his chance to play some games hitting 77 during the 2021-22 season where he scored seven goals and added six assists.

Which brings us to the 2022-23 season. The BC product signed a two-year deal last July (cap hit of 850K) but was reassigned and cleared waivers back in October during training camp. Rather than pout he produced for the Moose scoring five goals with four assists for nine points in six games. He would be recalled in November. After playing 22 games under Rick Bowness where he scored three goals and added two assists he was placed back on waivers by the Jets and was once again assigned to Manitoba. He would resume his points production to conclude the AHL season finishing with 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points in 44 games. Extrapolating that he could have finished in Top 5 in AHL points in a full season. He also produced in the playoffs providing Manitoba with four goals and three assists for seven points in their five-game series with the Admirals.

You can watch it here.