Photo: Dose.ca
The Washington Capitals acquired center Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Los Angeles Kings for goaltender Darcy Kuemper in a one-for-one swap on Wednesday. Dubois has seven years remaining on a contract that pays him $8.5 million cap hit.
Dubois, 25, scored 16 goals, 40 points, and a .497 faceoff-winning percentage in 82 regular-season games after getting acquired for centers Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, Gabriel Vilardi, and a 2024 second-round pick from the Winnipeg Jets on June 27. He also scored a goal in Los Angeles’ five-game first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers.
In 516 career regular-season games with Los Angeles, Winnipeg, and the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dubois gas 145 goals and 342 points. He has scored at least 27 goals and 60 points, respectively, in a single season three times over his seven-season NHL career and 40 points in every season.
Dubois was the third overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.
Kuemper’s campaign (13-14-3, .890 save percentage, 3.31 goals-against average, one shutout) was disappointing as he lost the starting job, but his five shutouts in 2022-23 were tied for second in the NHL
There have been reports that the team could be looking to move the 33-year-old, who costs $5.25 million against the NHL salary cap for three more seasons, after Charlie Lindgren enjoyed a breakout season as he Washington’s best player, going 25-16-7 with a .911 save percentage, 2.67 goals-against average, and six shutouts.
