Alright, let’s spill the tea on Pierre-Luc Dubois and his so-called impact on the Los Angeles Kings. Coach Todd McLellan is over here laying down the law, basically saying, “Hey PL, whether you’re on the ice for a hot minute or practically the entire game, you better start making waves.” His words came on the heels of a cringeworthy 4-3 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks, and you could almost hear the frustration in his voice. Credit to Hockey Royalty’s Russell Morgan for being on top of that scoop.
Now let’s rewind a bit. Dubois, a total diva, forced his way out of Winnipeg and into the sunny embrace of Los Angeles. The Kings, desperate for a bit of star power, waved goodbye to forwards Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, and a 2024 second-round pick, sending them into the icy tundra up north. Prior to all this drama, the Jets had locked in Dubois with an eye-watering eight-year contract, with an annual payday of $8.5 million. Come on, the guy’s set to be the most loaded forward on the Kings’ payroll next season, even when Anze Kopitar banks his two-year, $14 million deal.
However, things aren’t exactly a fairy tale in the City of Angels. Dubois’ performance could make a saint weep. He’s posted a mere nine goals and 19 points in 44 games, with less than 16 minutes on the ice per game. His minus-13 rating is a total buzzkill on a team that actually holds a plus-25 goal differential. And let’s not even start on the analytics – Dead. Last. In both goals above replacement (minus-5.4) and wins above replacement (minus-0.9), according to Evolving Hockey.
And get this: he’s on track for a measly 35 points for the entire season. Aside from that pandemic year that we all try to forget, this would be a personal worst. McLellan has bumped him down to the fourth line on occasion, which is pretty much the coach’s way of saying, “Better step up your game, or you can hang out with the bench warmers.”
Peek at the Kings’ record. They kicked off with a sizzling start—20-7-4 before Santa Claus made his rounds—only to faceplant with just two wins in their last 13 games. Ouch! Plus, they endured an eight-game losing spree, which is never fun for anyone except maybe the opposing teams. Enter the Edmonton Oilers, swooping in to swipe third place in the Pacific Division like a thief in the night.
Despite tumbling down the charts faster than a one-hit wonder, General Manager Rob Blake is putting all his chips on Coach McLellan. In an interview with The Athletic’s Eric Stephens, he’s waxing poetic about the “structure and system” that McLellan has instilled. Blake’s faith in the team’s leadership is nothing short of adorable.
Dubois and his Kings comrades have a shot at redemption when they lace up against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. Let’s just hope it’s not another facepalm moment.