Dubois finds his game with Capitals

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This article was published 31/01/2025 (263 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WASHINGTON – From afar, it looks like this latest shock to the system has resonated with Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Being involved in a blockbuster deal in consecutive summers was not something the former Winnipeg Jets centre would have had on his bingo card, but that’s exactly what happened to the player chosen third overall in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Moved by the Jets to the Los Angeles Kings in June of 2023 for a package that included forwards Gabe Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari and a second-round pick in 2024 that became Swedish D-man Alfons Frejs, last season didn’t go anywhere close to as planned.

So rather than wait for a potential bounce-back campaign, the Kings decided to move on from Dubois, shipping him to the Washington Capitals, less than one year after he signed an eight-year extension (technically with the Jets).

Dubois is set to face the Jets on Saturday night for the first time with his latest new team.

Earlier this week, prior to the Capitals game against the Ottawa Senators, Dubois was asked about his departure from the Kings and the fit in Washington.

“A lot happens in hockey, people talk about a lot of things but I knew what kind of player I was from just the year before,” Dubois said, referring to the 27 goals and career-high 63 points he had in 71 games for the Jets in 2022-23.

“Last year (with the Kings), I know it wasn’t a great year for me but I knew it wasn’t who I was as a player. In those moments, when you’re at your low, you can’t really say anything and you can’t defend yourself. You just get piled on and you go out there the next season and go back to the drawing board and get back to work.”

Dubois shared his appreciation for the belief his Capitals teammates and coaches have shown in him.

So far this season, Dubois has done his part to silence some of his critics.

Although he got off to a slow start offensively, Dubois has been playing well and is up to 11 goals and 41 points in 51 games.

Has Dubois finally found the fit he’s been searching for with what is now his fourth NHL organization?

Only time will tell over the course of the six-plus years that remain on his lucrative, long-term contract, but the early returns have been positive for both the player and the team.

“I can’t compare it really because they’re all different situations, but here is everything I’ve been looking for, really,” said Dubois.

As it turns out, this trade falls under the category of one that is benefitting both teams.

The Kings, who got goalie Darcy Kuemper, who is in the fourth year of a five-year deal that carries an AAV of US$5.25 million.

Kuemper has been limited to 27 games due to injury, but he’s delivered excellent goaltending for the Kings in a tandem with former Jets backup David Rittich.

Kuemper, who helped the Colorado Avalanche capture the Stanley Cup in 2022, is 14-6-6 with a 2.13 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.

 

Around the glass

On the rise

The NHL and NHLPA released an updated salary-cap projection for the next three seasons and the ceiling and the floor are going up significantly.

For next season, the cap is rising to U$95.5 million with a floor of US$70.6 million, followed by a jump to US$104 million (US$76.9-million floor) in 2026-27 and US$113.5 million (and US$83.9 million) in 2027-28.

The press release said the projections will be subject to potential minor adjustments up or down for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons

What does that mean for the Jets?

Well, if they continue to be a cap ceiling team, as they’ve been for multiple seasons, there will be additional space to provide raises to pending restricted free agents such as Vilardi and defenceman Dylan Samberg, retain some of their pending unrestricted free agents like Neal Pionk, Nikolaj Ehlers, Vladisalv Namestnikov, Iafallo and Haydn Fleury or try and fill some of the spots on the roster on the open market in free agency or via trade.

It’s also important to remember Jets sniper Kyle Connor can become a UFA in the summer of 2026 and you can be sure the organization wants to retain his services, so that will require some additional flexibility.

The landscape is definitely changing across the NHL and it will be interesting to see what — if any — impact the rising cap might have on the Jets and many other franchises.

 

An interesting list

Jets forward Parker Ford became the eighth player in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers history to score a goal in his NHL debut, notching the fifth goal in Thursday’s 6-2 victory over the Boston Bruins.

He joins Bryan Little, Patrik Laine, Jacob Trouba, Nic Petan, Sami Niku, John Albert and Nikita Chibrikov.

Ford crashed the net and knocked a loose puck out of the air for the memorable marker that came at 5:57 of the third period.

Based on how glowingly Jets head coach Scott Arniel spoke about Ford’s play, it’s a safe bet that he’s earned another look on Saturday against the Capitals.

Now it’s up to Ford to show he can consistently provide energy on the fourth line while Morgan Barron is sidelined with an upper-body issue.

 

Banking on Saad

The Vegas Golden Knights have been on the lookout for winger depth and they found some on Friday with the addition of Brandon Saad on a one-year deal worth US$1.5 million.

Saad, who cleared unconditional waivers, left a substantial amount of money on the table by agreeing to the termination — since he had an additional year on his contract with the St. Louis Blues with an AAV of US$4.5 million and an actual salary of US$3.625 million.

Rather than accept a move at full pay to play in the American Hockey League with the Springfield Thunderbirds after clearing waivers, Saad is joining a team that’s chasing another Stanley Cup.

Saad, 32, brings a championship pedigree from his time with the Chicago Blackhawks (20133, 2015) and is a seven-time 20-goal scorer.

 

The latest move

There’s nothing quite like a trade during a game to leave a hockey writer doing his or her best juggling act.

That’s what happened to those who cover the Calgary Flames on Thursday night when Craig Conroy completed a transaction with Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere.

The Flames, who continue to be right in the middle of the Western Conference wild-card chase, obtained a pair of youngish forwards in Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee while sending Jakub Pelletier, Andrei Kuzmenko and a pair of draft picks — a second and seventh rounder — the other way.

The Jets recently faced the Flames twice in an eight-day span and Pelletier and Kuzmenko showed well, though they’ve both endured some challenges previously.

Pelletier, chosen 26th overall in 2019, cleared waivers in October but did an excellent job during an AHL stint with the Calgary Wranglers and was up on the top line with Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau.

Frost, chosen 27th overall in 2017, has 11 goals and 25 points in 49 games but his numbers have dipped since a 19-goal, 46-point season in 2021-22.

Farabee, chosen 14th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, is a two-time 20-goal scorer but has eight goals and 19 points in 50 games this season.

Conroy made a deal for a pair of forwards in their mid-20s who could benefit from a change of scenery and potentially grow into core pieces.

The Flyers are changing the mix of its group and figure to be involved in several more deals before the Mar. 7 deadline arrives.

 

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg