The Los Angeles Kings have made a significant move by trading center Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Washington Capitals in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper. The initial acquisition of Dubois by the Kings came via a trade with the Winnipeg Jets last June, where he was quickly signed to an eight-year, $68 million extension by his former team before making the move to Los Angeles.
Dubois was brought to the Kings with high expectations, projected to succeed Anze Kopitar as the team's No. 1 center. However, his first season with the Kings didn't quite live up to those lofty ambitions. Dubois scored 16 goals and accumulated a total of 24 points over 82 games, finishing the season with a minus-9 rating. His playoff performance against the Edmonton Oilers was also underwhelming, contributing just one goal and racking up 20 penalty minutes over five games.
Initially, General Manager Rob Blake was adamant about not buying out Dubois's contract. However, the Kings ultimately decided to trade Dubois after experiencing buyer's remorse. Now, Dubois will get an opportunity to revive his career with the Capitals.
Dubois Fits Capitals' Needs
The trade comes at a crucial time for the Washington Capitals, who recently traded Evgeny Kuznetsov to the Carolina Hurricanes. With veteran Nicklas Backstrom stepping away from the NHL due to injuries last season, the Capitals found themselves in need of a skilled center. General Manager Brian MacLellan believes Dubois fills this critical gap, offering depth and potential at the center position.
Darcy Kuemper, who heads back to the Kings as part of the trade, initially signed a contract with the Capitals in 2022. Over two seasons with Washington, Kuemper posted a .902 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average across 90 games. Despite the respectable stats, Kuemper became expendable owing to the emergence of fellow goaltender Charlie Lindgren.
Returning to the Kings will not be entirely new for Kuemper, who previously played 19 games for the team during the 2017-18 season before being traded to the Arizona Coyotes. Kuemper now joins a Kings roster in dire need of reliable goaltending, especially following an injury to Pheonix Copley. Last season, the Kings' goaltending duties were shared between Cam Talbot and David Rittich, both of whom are entering free agency.
The Kings hope that Kuemper can rejuvenate his career while providing stability to their goaltending department, addressing a critical area of need for the team. Blake emphasized the importance of getting Kuemper back to a high level of 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."
Impact on Both Franchises
This trade marks a significant shift for both the Kings and the Capitals. The Capitals, in particular, are confident that Dubois will thrive in a new setting, offering him increased responsibility and opportunity to develop into a top-tier center.
"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 Brian MacLellan, expressing his optimism about Dubois's future with the team.
For the Kings, the return of Kuemper is seen as a necessary move to strengthen their goaltending options. With Cam Talbot and Pheonix Copley entering free agency, the Kings required a dependable netminder. Kuemper’s experience and past performance with the team make him a valuable addition to the roster. Rob Blake noted the significance of reintegration: "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."
The trade also acknowledges Charlie Lindgren's impressive performance, as emphasized by Brian MacLellan: "After witnessing Charlie Lindgren's performance last season, we believe he deserves a chance to play a more significant role within our team."
Both franchises are making bold moves with the hopes of enhancing their respective rosters and addressing key areas of need. As the next season approaches, all eyes will be on Dubois and Kuemper to see how they adapt and impact their new teams.