Two days remain before the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers are scheduled to resume the Stanley Cup Finals, with the best-of-seven series headed for a pivotal Game 6 in Edmonton where the Panthers will look to clinch the series in enemy territory.
That doesn’t mean Wednesday was a dull day for hockey news.
The Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals hooked up on a blockbuster trade that will send former All-Star goaltender — and former King — Darcy Kuemper back to L.A. in exchange for center Pierre-Luc Dubois.
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The No. 3 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, Dubois set Columbus Blue Jackets rookie records for goals (20), points (48), and games played (82) in 2017-18. In 2018-19, Dubois helped the Blue Jackets win a Stanley Cup playoff series for the first time — a sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He scored five points (two goals, three assists) in 10 playoff games.
After the 2022 season, Dubois signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets as a restricted free agent, six months after he was acquired in a trade with the Blue Jackets. His 36 assists and 63 points in 2022-23 were NHL career-highs.
Acquired by the Kings in June 2023 (for Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, and a second-round pick in the 2024 draft), Dubois was not able to replicate his success in Los Angeles. He managed only 16 goals and 40 points in 82 games while slumping to a career-worst minus-9 rating. Dubois’ average ice time of 15:42 was also a career-low for a full season.
For the Kings, the trade represents an opportunity to get out of the eight-year, $68 million commitment they made to Dubois immediately after the trade. For the Capitals, it’s an opportunity to give Dubois a fresh start and bolster their depth down the middle.
It comes at the cost of Kuemper, 34, a three-time All-Star who’s also coming off a down season.
Kuemper was 13-14-3 with a 3.31 goals-against average, .890 save percentage, and one shutout in 33 games (30 starts) for the Capitals this season. He began the season as the incumbent starter and finished as the backup to Charlie Lindgren as the Caps were swept in four games by the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs.
It’s the second turn in Los Angeles for Kuemper, who signed a one-year contract with the Kings prior to the 2017-18 season but only played 19 games before he was traded to the Arizona Coyotes.
Kuemper signed a two-year contract and emerged as the Coyotes’ starter in 2018-19. The performance earned Kuemper a two-year contract, which he signed Oct. 2, 2019.
The Coyotes traded Kuemper to the Avalanche for Conor Timmins and two draft picks after the 2020-21 season. With the Avs, Kuemper enjoyed his greatest success, winning a career-high 37 games and going 10-4 with a 2.57 goals-against average, .902 save percentage, and one shutout in the postseason.
Kuemper made 22 saves in Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, giving the Avalanche their first NHL championship since 2001. An unrestricted free agent, Kuemper signed a five-year, $26.25 million contract with the Capitals in July 2022. He has three years left on the deal.
Will another trade prove as motivation for Kuemper? The Kings reached the playoffs last season behind Cam Talbot (27-20-6, .913 save percentage) but for the second consecutive year lost in the first round to the eventual Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers. Re-acquiring Kuemper could represent a reset for the team and its new — and once-former — goaltender.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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