Kings Should Take Notes on How Canada Deployed Dubois

The Los Angeles Kings have several problems this summer and one of the biggest problems is figuring out how to get the most out of Pierre-Luc Dubois. 

General manager Rob Blake had admitted the team needs to do more for Dubois, and they player's admitted he needs to be better. 

Now it's about turning words into action. 

While World Championship success should be taken with a grain of salt, Dubois' 9 points in 10 games and general solid play for Canada should offer the Kings a blueprint on how to use Dubois effectively. 

Canada most often deployed Dubois as a wing on John Tavares' line and in front on the power play. 

That role on the power play and 5v5 usage has been talked about a lot recently and we've now seen how successful Dubois can be when used this way. 

His role on the power play is the more crucial one. 

I think it's unlikely Dubois starts the season at wing, although the Kings need to keep that option available, but he must start the year playing net-front on the power play. 

Having Dubois, who's found a lot of power play success playing the net-front, spend all season on the half-wall was a ridiculous decision from the Kings. 

Dubois himself admitted he feels far more comfortable in front and it matches his skill set better. 

If the Kings want Dubois to hit double digits in power-play goals and anywhere close to the production he had in Winnipeg, they have to put him in front of the net. 

At wing with someone like Quinton Byfield or Phil Danault, Dubois could find a lot of success.

We saw the success Dubois can have when his defensive responsibility and play driving expectations are reduced with Canada and the Kings should try to replicate that. 

Again, the 5v5 role is less important, the Kings should entertain it but it's less important than Dubois' power play usage.