The Kings have traded center Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Darcy Kuemper in Wednesday’s stunning swap that filled a need in net but also represented an abrupt reversal of course from just a year ago.
Both clubs confirmed the trade in their respective news releases, with Kings general manager Rob Blake set to speak later Wednesday afternoon.
Last June, the Kings created a tectonic shift in their roster, shipping out seven players and multiple draft picks to acquire Dubois and also re-sign his former Columbus Blue Jackets teammates Vladislav Gavrikov.
Dubois disappointed deeply, posting career lows for a season of 60 or more games in points, goals, assists and plus-minus rating. Worse still, he often appeared aloof and unmotivated on the ice. That malaise portended trouble for a player to whom the Kings committed the highest annual salary among their forwards for the coming season and gave a full no-movement clause set to kick in July 1.
None of that daunted the Capitals, whose general manager Brian MacLellan said he’d welcome Dubois with open arms. For Washington, the deal may represent something of a buy-low on one of the most coveted assets last offseason that became distressed after a full-season faceplant that culminated in a hapless first-round playoff exit.
“We are thrilled to announce the addition of Pierre-Luc to the Caps organization,” MacLellan said in statement released by the Capitals. “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.”
Dubois competed at the World Championships for Canada and showed some of the production and sizzle that MacLellan, like three other GMs that acquired Dubois before him, described. The Capitals were also in a position of strength in goal, moving on from Kuemper after the emergence of former journeyman Charlie Lindgren as a legitimate No. 1 option.
“We also thank Darcy for his valuable contributions to our organization on and off the ice and wish him the best in Los Angeles,” MacLellan added. “After witnessing Charlie Lindgren’s performance last season, we believe he deserves a chance to play a more significant role within our team.”
In Kuemper, the Kings get another player whose NHL passport has been adorned with plenty of stamps, including a 19-game stint in Los Angeles in 2017-18. His career record of 178-135-46 was highlighted by a Stanley Cup triumph in 2022 with the Colorado Avalanche, which opted to move on from him just weeks after winning the Cup with him as their starter.
Last season with Washington, a team that relied on veteran savvy and grit to make the playoffs despite an acrid negative-37 goal differential, Kuemper turned in a tepid performance: a 13-14-3 record with an .890 save percentage and 3.31 goals-against average.