Kings solved a pair of problems on Wednesday by exchanging an expensive cost but underperforming Pierre-Luc Dubois To Washington's capital for goalkeeper Darcy Kuemper.
Kuemper, a former kingwill go to the top of the slim depth graphic of the team in order. The only other goalkeeper on the list of Kings in the NHL is David Rittich, who was signed with the team last month.
Trade is one for one, without salary kept on each side, which will give the kings A considerable ceiling space since Kuemper is due to $ 5.25 million per year during each of the following three seasons. Dubois is due to $ 8.5 million until 2030-31.
Dubois, the third overall choice of NHL 2016 draft, came to the Kings in a trade with Winnipeg jets A year ago. It was an expensive affair for the Kings, who abandoned Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari, plus a choice of second -round recovery, for Dubois, which was signed for an eight -year contract and $ 68 million.
However, the 25 -year -old center was largely a bust, compiling 16 goals and 24 assists in the regular season and marking only once in the playoffs, during which the kings were Eliminated by Edmonton's Oilers In the first round for the third time in as many seasons.
With the exception of the 2020-21 season to the interpretation of Covid, Dubois' figures with the Kings were career stockings. On Wednesday, managing director Rob Blake took the blame.
“I do not think I have done a good job good the integration in the good roles of the team,” he said. “It was not a good choice in this aspect for us and we will take responsibility for it.”
When asked if Dubois was part of the problem, Blake said no.
“I put it on us,” he said. “We have to work better as a group within this organization to do this.”
Instead, he threw Dubois on the capital, whose managing director Brian Maclellan praised the agreement. Washington will be the fourth organization of Dubois in five years.
The Kings exchanged Pierre-Luc Dubois to Washington Capitals.
(Matt Slocum / Associated Press)
“This acquisition brings a talented 25-year-old player with immense potential to become a high-level center in the NHL,” he said in a statement. “With its size, its exceptional skating and its IQ of high hockey, we are convinced that it will prosperate in our organization with increased responsibilities and opportunities.”
Kuemper, 34, appeared in 33 games for Washington last season, spending 13-14-3 with a bleaching in 30 departures. He played 389 NHL games out of 13 seasons with Minnesota, Arizona, Colorado, Washington and Kings, displaying an average of 2.61 goals, a percentage of stops of .914 and 31 whitening.
Kuemper appeared in 19 games with the Kings in the first half of the 2017-18 season, spending 10-1-3 with three whitening. During the STANLEY 2022 cup playoffs, he won 10 of the 14 departures to help Colorado in a championship.
Rittich and Kuemper are the only guards with an NHL experience in the organization, although Blake is at the top of Erik Portillo, who played well for the AHL of Kings affiliate, Reign Ontario, this season.
“We know the character,” said Blake about Kuemper. “But I think that the tandem with David – David played well for us last year – we had to go with different guards here in recent years. We have comfort in these two we bring where we want to go.”
The managing director did not close the door of the veteran Cam Talbot, who had an average of goals at 2.5 goals in 54 regular season games in 2023-24, but said that discussions on a new contract had not taken place.
