TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the Washington Capitals and Los Angeles Kings are working on a one-for-one swap to see Pierre-Luc Dubois head to Washington and goaltender Darcy Kuemper head to the Kings. LeBrun also mentions that no salary will be retained in the deal. The Kings organization has confirmed the deal.
Although there were no major rumblings that Dubois would be moved this offseason, it makes sense on paper given his no-move clause will start in only a few weeks. The Capitals will now be on the hook for the remaining seven years and $59.5MM remaining on Dubois’ extension.
Washington will now mark the fourth team of Dubois’ career after being involved in two separate trades prior. During the 2020-21 NHL season, Dubois was sent to the Winnipeg Jets in a deal that landed Patrik Laine with the Columbus Blue Jackets. With an apparent distaste for the Jets organization, Dubois was traded to the Kings organization last summer in a deal that saw Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, and Rasmus Kupari head to Manitoba.
After posting back-to-back 60-point seasons in Winnipeg, Los Angeles originally thought Dubois would make a perfect addition as the team’s second-line center for many years to come, and even replace Anze Kopitar as the team’s top centerman when he eventually hangs up his skates. However, Dubois failed to deliver on expectations that come with an $8.5MM salary with the Kings, scoring only 16 goals and 40 points this past season.
Dubois’ offensive production was not the only thing to slip in his first season in California, as both his defensive and possession metrics also saw a decline. Nevertheless, although inconsistency has plagued him for much of his career, Dubois is still only 25 years old giving him plenty of time to become a dependable player on any team.
Dubois should have access to a much larger role in Washington given that the team has seen two top-centerman leave the organization in recent years. Nicklas Backstrom has more than likely played his last game in the NHL after failing to fully recover from hip-resurfacing surgery while Evgeny Kuznetsov was shipped off to the Carolina Hurricanes at last year’s deadline after struggling to put up points.
The Capitals will likely start Dubois as the team’s second-line center with Dylan Strome creating solid chemistry with franchise legend Alex Ovechkin, but Dubois gives the team a lot of flexibility at the top of their forward core. Although he is not a very physical player, Dubois carries a big frame which could allow more ice to open up for Ovechkin.
On the other side of the deal, Kuemper’s inclusion in the deal gives Los Angeles some much-needed certainty in the crease while opening up another $3.25MM in cap space. Likewise, this means that the Capitals have firmly committed to Charlie Lindgren as the team’s top goaltender heading into the 2024-25 NHL season. After the swap, the Kings now have $23.45MM in cap space but do have a couple of restricted free agents to bring back into the fold.
It will be interesting to see if Kuemper can rediscover his game in California, as he had not been very consistent throughout his time with the Capitals. In 2021-22, then the starting goal
tender for the Colorado Avalanche, Kuemper backstopped his team to a Stanley Cup Championship which would later earn him a five-year, $26.25MM deal with Washington on the open market.
Throughout his time in the United States capital, Kuemper started in 86 games for the Capitals in two seasons earning a 35-40-10 record while carrying a .902 save percentage and 3.03 goals against average. In any case, Kuemper should benefit from a much stronger defensive core in Los Angeles as the team only allowed 2296 shots against this past season which was good for fourth in the NHL.
PHR’s Brennan McClain contributed significantly to this article.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report Dubois had been traded to Washington.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun was the first to report that Kuemper was included in the trade.
LeBrun was the first to break the full trade details.
He’s never lied to me before. Interesting move. Let’s see the pieces
I thought playing for the Kings was a dream come true for PLD (His words not mine)
A nightmare for Kings fans!
Ok that’s unexpected
What is this madness. Nobody should be helping Rob Blake like this.
And yet…. there is always someone dumber!
Whatttttt can the flames now trade Huby for the Ranta straight up?
Kings and Rangers getting bailed out today.
I wander if Blake called Grier, probably could have gotten 3 – #1 picks for PLD!
I just took a look at that PLD contract and now I’m curled up in the fetal position in the corner, rocking back & forth and sobbing.
Lol. It’s not that bad because the cap is going up! Joking. When people say that I always chuckle. For real though he turns 26 next wk, has great size & has shown high-end potential (at times) over the yrs. Worth a shot for the Caps maybe!?!?
He showed signs of greatness watching him last year. Only problem was that it was two or three games. He worked his way to a bottom six role. Best of luck!
I would think this is an Ovi thing. I mean he has 2-4 years left, has the chance to really break Gretzkeys record and the team only had 1 top 6 center. There is no doubt an issue with PLD, you don’t go thur 4 teams in as many years like that for nothing.
And I am running around the neighborhood lighting fireworks, helping old ladies cross the street and buying rounds of beer at my local pub!
I’m not the only one that thinks this makes no sense for Washington, right? Their #1 goalie for a player that if he keeps underperforming could be one of the worst contracts in the league?
No, you are def the only one. Kuemper got relegated to backup with his subpar play. Lindgren was pretty much #1 in the 2nd half of the season. Seems like a nice change of scenery trade for both, although that’s a $3m difference in cap hit for WSH. I can see why WSH did it though, to potentially retool their O for Ovechkin’s final years. We’ll see if it works out, although I’m def not a fan of Dubois
Lindgren had supplanted Kuemper as the number 1, but it’s still a ton of cap space and risk for Washington. Maybe he helps them hit the floor once the inevitable tear down occurs when Ovi retires.
Not sure about that. That contract Washington just took on isn’t going to age well for them. The kid is on the downside of his career already and can’t seem to convince a team to hold on to him. Moving your backup goalie for that contract is not worth the risk for reward.
The other way to look at it is kuemper was a sunk cost at this point so the real thing the team is asking themselves would they subtract him to add PLD for 3M per season for the next 4 years and 8.5 3 years after. Realistically I don’t see any team turning down PLD for 3M for 4 years and if he plays how he is supposed to the 8.5 after will be well worth it and likely the going rate for a top 6 center in 6/7 years
This will age as well as the Erat trade for WSH
Martin Erat – two goals in Washington. Filip Forsberg – 287 goals. Too early to determine winner.
I guess it was worth it to get rid of that Sloth PLD! So the Kings actually traded Vallardi, Iaffalo, Kupari, 2nd round pick(Durzi) and retained $2.25 mil in salary x 2 years(Provorov) for Kemper! I am living in the Bizarro World and Blake is the King!
Yep. Quite a cost for a rollercoaster goaltender. But, he has his best year here, so maybe he comes back to that form
They traded all those pieces PLUS Dubois to get Kuemper! What a waste of assets for a guy who is a complete flake!
They cleared cap space and some bad contracts. Blake did great.
I love this trade for both teams.
For the Kings, they get rid of a TERRIBLE contract for an absolute DOG. AND they get a solid upgrade in goal on top of it.
For the Caps, as a Pens fan I hate them and this deal is terrible for them unless this DOG suddenly starts caring about the teams he plays for…which has yet to happen even once in his career.
If you really think about the numbers. The extra cap that went up and Kuenpers cap hit. The caps got PLD for free.
Still a negative win IMO
Please share whatever you are smoking!
Bergevin destroying LA youth pool
No way lol. I never thought the caps could unload that contract. They got off easy
PLD has a high hockey IQ, but what about is desire and motivation? May LA can sign Byfield and develop a goalie in the interim? They still need to upgrade their offense.
Hopefully Turcotte can take the next step. Definitely an opportunity waiting for someone… I’m hoping Blake isn’t thinking of Lindholm.
I feel neutral about this. We’ll see how Kuemper performs next season….
Kuemper’s performance is irrelevant. The Kings got out of PLD’s absurd contract. If you are a Kings fan you should be overjoyed.
I am very happy. Although his performance is very relevant! With 3 years at $5.25 per year that is #1 goalie money. The Kings are betting on him to return to top form. If he is healthy he has proven to be a top 10 goalie, I can only hope!
Rob Blake – King of Kings
guess they have to replace ovi with someone.. might as well massively overpay pld since there’s not much in the system besides leonard .. super high risk for an average reward
Well, Blake bought a lemon but made lemonade out of it. Sort of.
I don’t think PLD can ever get away from his reputation as a whiney little turd in Columbus and Winnipeg, and the King’s obviously didn’t like him enough to tolerate a no trade clause.
From Washington’s angle, I really think this is a terrible trade. They are taking on a long, over-priced contract for a guy with attitude problems that carries a no-trade clause. It’s a gamble, and if it pays off, hey, they may be psychics. But if it doesn’t…
I think the logic is that the Caps desperately needed a center for Ovi’s final years, that the Caps probably figured that they won’t be able to a sign a center this year, and the market price is the cost of PLD’s contract anyways. Ultimately this is like a 2-3 year gamble. After Ovi retires, the team will rebuild and will be bad, so it won’t really matter at that point. Having Tom Wilson around should encourage PLD to keep his nose clean in any case.
Desperately is right!
Trading PLD is addition by subtraction. It amazes me that any GM who has followed his off and on effort the last several years would want him on their team.
PLD’s gone and Kings fans STILL complaining… What a miserable lot…
(Yes, I’m a Kings fan)
#GoKings
Ya think! Blake stupidity = Kovalchuk, Petersen, PLD! Win a Cup and everyone will be happy!
No go 8×8 with Drouin!
Now watch, in a year or two, PLD will be complaining about WSH.
Probably sooner!