The Washington Capitals have traded goalie Darcy Kuemper to the Los Angeles Kings for center Pierre-Luc Dubois, the teams announced Wednesday.
No draft picks or salary considerations were included in the deal.
“We are thrilled to announce the addition of Pierre-Luc to the Caps organization,” Washington general manager Brian MacLellan said. “This acquisition brings in a talented 25-year-old with immense potential to become a top-tier center in the NHL.”
Dubois, the third overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft, has had an inconsistent start to his career. The Quebec native showed promise with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Winnipeg Jets before landing with the Kings in 2023 while signing a deal for $68 million over eight years.
He failed to meet expectations during his only season in Los Angeles, notching 16 goals and 24 assists across 82 games as the Kings went 44-27-11.
“With his size, exceptional skating and high hockey IQ, we are confident he will thrive in our organization with increased responsibility and opportunity,” MacLellan said.
Kuemper, who allowed 3.3 goals per game in 33 appearances last season, lost the starting goaltending job to Charlie Lindgren after a rocky start to the 2023-24 campaign as the Caps went 40-31-11.
“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 said. “After witnessing Charlie Lindgren’s performance last season, we believe he deserves a chance to play a more significant role within our team.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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