Now that the 2024 World Championship has ended, the Los Angeles Kings should have lots to be proud of.
They had Kevin Fiala win the top forward in the tournament with seven goals and six assists for 13 points in eight games. After arriving late, he was dominant from the jump, which was noticeable.
Another name that stood out for the Kings was Pierre-Luc Dubois. After struggling with the Kings this season, he needed a better ending to his hockey season. He got that to some extent, unfortunately, he and Team Canada fell short and finished fourth, but he still had a great tournament.
In 10 games, he scored four goals and five assists for nine points. He played top on the team's top line alongside the Toronto Maple Leafs' captain John Tavares and the Tampa Bay Lightning's Brandon Hagel.
The trio played very well and at times, dominated their matchups versus the other team's top lines. They were widely thought to be Canada's best overall line, which kept them in games due to their strong play.
As the Kings were watching Dubois' performance, they had to be proud. If they can get him playing at that high level, he will not only make up for this season but also make his contract worth $8.5 million per season.
The main takeaway for the Kings from Dubois' performance was that he was playing the wing beside a true centerman in Tavares. This could be the deciding factor as to why the Kings should switch Dubois to the wing rather than playing him down the middle next season potentially alongside either Anze Kopitar or Quintin Byfield.