The Los Angeles Kings have made a significant roster change, trading center Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Washington Capitals in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper. This move marks a substantial shift for both franchises as they address their respective team needs.
Background on Dubois
The Kings initially acquired Dubois in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets last June. The Jets had signed him to an eight-year, $68 million extension before dealing him to Los Angeles. Dubois was expected to eventually succeed Anze Kopitar as the Kings' No. 1 center. However, his performance in his first season with the Kings fell short of expectations. Dubois recorded only 16 goals and 24 points in 82 games and finished the season with a minus-9 rating. In the playoffs, he managed just one goal and accumulated 20 penalty minutes over five games against the Edmonton Oilers.
Despite declaring that they would not buy out Dubois's contract, Kings' General Manager Rob Blake has decided to part ways with the center, citing buyer's remorse. The Kings believe that trading Dubois is the best course of action following an underwhelming season.
Dubois will now don the Capitals jersey, hoping to revive his career in Washington, where he will be given an opportunity to play a pivotal role.
Dubois Fits Capitals' Needs
This trade comes in the wake of major changes for the Capitals at the center position. Washington recently traded Evgeny Kuznetsov to the Carolina Hurricanes, and long-time center Nicklas Backstrom stepped away from the NHL due to injuries last season. Capitals’ General Manager Brian MacLellan has expressed that Dubois fills a critical gap at center for the team.
"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," MacLellan said.
Kuemper's Return to the Kings
On the other side of the trade, Darcy Kuemper returns to the Kings. Kuemper had signed a contract with the Capitals in 2022, and over two seasons, he posted a .902 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average across 90 games. Kuemper became expendable due to the impressive performance of goaltender Charlie Lindgren, as highlighted by MacLellan: “After witnessing Charlie Lindgren's performance last season, we believe he deserves a chance to play a more significant role within our team.”
Kuemper is no stranger to the Kings, having played 19 games for Los Angeles in the 2017-18 season before being traded to the Arizona Coyotes. The Kings needed a reliable goaltender following an injury to Pheonix Copley and the uncertainty surrounding their current goaltending situation, with Cam Talbot and David Rittich also entering free agency.
Rob Blake has expressed hope that Kuemper can help stabilize the Kings' goaltending department. "We need to make him better. He's had consistent performance over his career so far and deviated from that this year. It's up to us to help him become more productive for us," Blake stated.
Significant Shift for Both Franchises
This trade marks a significant shift for both the Los Angeles Kings and the Washington Capitals. The Kings are looking to rejuvenate Kuemper's career and ensure reliability on their back end, while the Capitals are counting on Dubois to become a cornerstone center in the absence of Kuznetsov and Backstrom. Both teams are optimistic that these changes will bring the desired improvement to their respective rosters as they prepare for the upcoming NHL season.
Ultimately, the true success of this trade will be evaluated based on the performances of Dubois and Kuemper in their new roles. For now, both franchises can hope that these strategic moves will pave the way for stronger seasons ahead.