The Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals have made headlines with a significant trade that sees center Pierre-Luc Dubois heading to the Capitals in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper. This move comes after the Kings felt a sense of buyer's remorse regarding Dubois, despite having high expectations for him when they acquired him last June from the Winnipeg Jets.
Background on Dubois and His Time with the Kings
Dubois, who was initially signed to an eight-year, $68 million extension by the Jets before being traded to the Kings, was anticipated to be the successor to Anze Kopitar as the Kings' No. 1 center. However, his first season with the Kings did not go as planned. Dubois managed to score only 16 goals and registered 24 points in 82 games, ending the season with a minus-9 rating. In the playoffs, his performance was similarly underwhelming with just one goal and 20 penalty minutes in five games against the Edmonton Oilers.
General Manager Rob Blake had earlier stated that the Kings would not buy out Dubois's contract. Nevertheless, the decision to trade Dubois stemmed from an evident sense of buyer’s remorse. Now, Dubois will be looking to revive his career in Washington, fulfilling a critical need for the Capitals.
Dubois Fills a Critical Role for the Capitals
The Capitals recently traded center Evgeny Kuznetsov to the Carolina Hurricanes and have been grappling with the absence of Nicklas Backstrom, who stepped away from the NHL due to injuries last season. According to Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan, Dubois is the perfect fit to fill the void at center left by these departures.
"We are thrilled to announce the addition of Pierre-Luc to the Caps organization. This acquisition brings in a talented 25-year-old with immense potential to become a top-tier center in the NHL. With his size, exceptional skating, and high hockey IQ, we are confident he will thrive in our organization with increased responsibility and opportunity," said MacLellan.
Darcy Kuemper, on the other hand, returns to the Kings after signing a contract with the Capitals in 2022. With a .902 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average over 90 games in two seasons with the Capitals, Kuemper became expendable due to the emergence of goaltender Charlie Lindgren. Kuemper’s earlier stint with the Kings in the 2017-18 season saw him playing in 19 games before being traded to the Arizona Coyotes.
The Kings' Goaltending Challenge
The trade for Kuemper comes at a crucial time for the Kings, who faced goaltending concerns following an injury to Pheonix Copley. Last season’s goalies, Cam Talbot and David Rittich, left a gap as both entered free agency. The Kings are hopeful that Kuemper can rejuvenate his career and provide the stability needed in their goaltending department.
Rob Blake emphasized the need to help Kuemper return to form. "We need to make him better. He's had a consistent performance over his career so far and deviated from that this year. It's up to us to help him become more productive to us," Blake stated.
Future Prospects for Both Teams
For the Capitals, the addition of Dubois marks a significant uptake of fresh talent and a step toward reinvigorating their offensive lines. Brian MacLellan expressed his confidence in Dubois's future with the team. "After witnessing Charlie Lindgren's performance last season, we believe he deserves a chance to play a more significant role within our team," he added, underscoring the swing towards Lindgren taking up more responsibility in the absence of Kuemper.
As both teams adjust to these significant shifts, the impact of this trade will be closely monitored. The Kings aim to stabilize their performance with a more reliable goaltending solution, while the Capitals look forward to nurturing Dubois's immense potential to once again solidify their prowess in the NHL.