A year ago, Pierre-Luc Dubois saw himself as a cornerstone of the Los Angeles Kings, having secured an eight-year, $68 million contract after a trade from Winnipeg. However, a disappointing season led to another trade last week, sending him to the Washington Capitals for goaltender Darcy Kuemper.
Dubois, who turned 26 on Monday, has now been traded three times since 2021. While the first two moves were his choice, this latest trade forced him to quickly adapt to his fourth NHL team.
"I don't think there's any time for anybody to feel sorry about themselves," Dubois said in a video call with reporters. "Teams will do what they think is best for them. I'm using this as extra motivation to get ready for next season."
After a career-low 40 points last season, Kings GM Rob Blake admitted Dubois wasn't put in the right roles. Now, Dubois gets a fresh start with the Capitals, joining his former Canadian world junior teammate, Dylan Strome.
Dubois is determined to return to form, having scored 27 or more goals in previous seasons. Capitals GM Brian MacLellan sees Dubois' potential as a top-tier player due to his size, skating, and hockey IQ.
"It was exactly what you want to hear as a player: how excited they are and how I can help," Dubois said. "You want to feel welcome and part of it."
