Shocking statement from Pierre-Luc Dubois about his struggles with the Kings, and Kent Hughes dodged a bullet

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David St-Jean
September 12, 2024 (6:38 PM)

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In the summer of 2023, the Los Angeles Kings acquired Pierre-Luc Dubois at a very high price, signing him to a lucrative 8-year, $68 million contract, edging out Kent Hughes and other competitors.

Indeed, the Canadiens were in the mix to acquire him, but the Kings' offer was unbeatable. When looking at the result after just one season in LA, it seems Kent Hughes dodged a bullet!

The forward was traded to the Washington Capitals earlier this summer for Darcy Kuemper, which means almost nothing in return. Not a great look for a CV.

To explain his struggles, Pierre-Luc Dubois didn't hesitate to throw a jab at his former organization.

"Take it as you will, but I've always needed clear direction to be able to give 100%. I'm confused when there's a gray area. I overthink things. It's something I've been working on since I was young. And, from my first conversations with the team, I didn't really know what was expected of me. I didn't know where I stood. You can't play well when you're constantly questioning things."

- Pierre-Luc Dubois

What's hard to understand in this statement is that he mentioned previously how much the Kings wanted him more than other teams. For him to feel that desired, communication must have been important, right? Or was it just about the money?

I'm not trying to throw him under the bus, but at some point, you need to look in the mirror, and he did just that, which I respect a lot.

"We didn't talk very often," Dubois said about Kings head coach Todd McLellan. "Todd is more of a team tactician. Maybe we didn't have that kind of relationship. Maybe it was me being too demanding, wanting a clear path laid out for me. It's obviously my fault that it didn't work out."

So, it seems that when directions are clear, Pierre-Luc Dubois performs at his best. He's capable of being an excellent hockey player, and he will have the chance to prove it alongside Alex Ovechkin.

I sincerely hope he bounces back for several consecutive seasons and silences the critics.