The Los Angeles Kings traded center Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Washington Capitals for goaltender Darcy Kuemper, marking a significant shift for both franchises. The Kings initially acquired Dubois in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets in June of last year. Subsequently, Dubois was signed to an eight-year, $68 million extension by the Jets before being traded to the Kings. Expectations were high, with Dubois slated to succeed Anze Kopitar as the Kings' No. 1 center.
Dubois's Time with the Kings
During his first season with the Kings, Dubois scored 16 goals and accumulated 24 points across 82 games, finishing with a minus-9 rating. In the playoffs, he managed just one goal and accrued 20 penalty minutes over five games against the Edmonton Oilers. Despite general manager Rob Blake initially vowing not to buy out Dubois's contract, the Kings traded Dubois as feelings of buyer's remorse set in. Now, Dubois will play for the Capitals, where he hopes to revive his career.
Dubois Fits Capitals' Needs
The Capitals, on the other hand, had their own roster adjustments. They traded Evgeny Kuznetsov to the Carolina Hurricanes and faced the absence of Nicklas Backstrom, who had stepped away from the NHL due to injuries last season. According to general manager Brian MacLellan, Dubois fills a critical gap at center for the Capitals. "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 stated.
Kuemper’s Return to the Kings
Darcy Kuemper returns to the Kings after having signed a contract with the Capitals in 2022. Over 90 games spread across two seasons with the Capitals, Kuemper compiled a .902 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average. However, the emergence of goaltender Charlie Lindgren made Kuemper expendable and facilitated his return to the Kings. This isn't Kuemper's first stint with the Kings; he previously played 19 games for the team during the 2017-18 season before being traded to the Arizona Coyotes.
In light of an injury to Pheonix Copley, the Kings found themselves in need of a reliable goaltender. Last season's goaltending duties were split between Cam Talbot and David Rittich, with Talbot and Copley entering free agency. The Kings now hope to rejuvenate Kuemper's career and bring stability to their goaltending department. General manager Rob Blake expressed the organization's commitment to improving Kuemper's performance: "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."
Emergence of Charlie Lindgren
Charlie Lindgren, whose impressive performance last season with the Capitals contributed to Kuemper becoming available, is expected to take on a more significant role within Washington's roster. Brian MacLellan shared his confidence in Lindgren: "After witnessing Charlie Lindgren's performance last season, we believe he deserves a chance to play a more significant role within our team."
Shift in Dynamics
This trade marks a pivotal moment for both the Los Angeles Kings and the Washington Capitals. The Kings are banking on Darcy Kuemper to solidify their goaltending situation, while the Capitals are counting on Pierre-Luc Dubois to fill a critical gap at center and rejuvenate his career. Each team hopes that these changes will bring about the necessary improvements to help them achieve success in the upcoming seasons.