The Washington Capitals are off to a stellar 19-6-2 start to the season, and a big reason for their success early on this year has been the play of Pierre-Luc Dubois.
The 26-year-old Dubois was acquired in an off-season trade from the Los Angeles Kings, in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper. Dubois spent just one season with the Kings, recording 40 points in 82 games. The Capitals’ centre has six years left on his contract at $8.5 million AAV, so there was certainly a level of risk involved from Washington’s perspective to take on the remainder of his deal.
Considering all the injuries Washington has faced up front this season, Dubois once again finding his groove with his change of scenery, could not have come at a better time for the Capitals.
On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk was joined by Colby Cohen, and the two discussed what they’ve seen out of Dubois early on this season.
Yaremchuk: Our weekend warriors, since you’re the guest host Colby, who do you got?
Cohen: I went with P-L-D (Pierre-Luc Dubois). And, I’ll tell you right now, this is a guy, I don’t know if it was my show or your show last year, I couldn’t have been harder on him for what he was doing in L.A.
But, I’m going to give credit where credit is due. He’s been consistent, his minutes are a little bit higher in the last four or five games. Over the weekend, had a 1-and-1 (1G,1A) against Montreal, had a big assist against Toronto, he’s a plus-player this year. Which he hasn’t really been.
You see the way he’s winning puck battles, Tyler. You see the way he’s engaging. Too many times in his career, he’s just been a perimeter hockey player. And, when you have his size, that’s never going to sit well with any coach, with any GM, which is why we’ve seen him on the adventure throughout his career that he’s been in. But, it’s obvious whether it’s Ovechkin, whether it’s (head coach) Spencer Carbery, whether it’s the locker room, guys have him inspired, and he’s just no longer playing at the end of his stick. He’s barring down with that lower hand, he’s in the battle, he’s in the high-danger areas, so he was my weekend warrior.