The Capitals center is ready to start fresh with his new team.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — Pierre-Luc Dubois is no stranger to pressure; the newest Washington Capitals center has felt it from just about everywhere.
He's well aware of the critics and talk that surrounds him as he starts over with his fourth team in four years. At the same time, he understands the hype, excitement and high expectations as he steps into the Capitals' top-6 after a busy offseason of change.
On top of that, he noted that he could be his own worst critic.
"I'm somebody that already puts a lot of pressure on myself to play well," Dubois pointed out.
The 27-year-old is coming off a down year with the Los Angeles Kings, who gave up quite a bit to bring him into town just a year ago while signing him to an eight-year deal.
He had just 40 points while struggling to fit in with the team's lines and systems, often spending time on the bottom 6 or moving from his natural center position.
His down year and lack of chemistry led to a trade to Washington in exchange for Darcy Kuemper, as the deal offered a fresh start for two players who needed a change of scenery.
Now, with a fresh mindset and an opportunity to start anew, Dubois is approaching this year with a new mentality: don't overthink.
"If I'm concentrating on things that I should do well, there there's a lot of things I won't do well," Dubois pointed out. "I'll make some mistakes, it's just the way it is. As long as I can learn from my game going period by period, I'll be happy."
It's taken a while for Dubois to put that lesson into practice, but it's been beneficial as he has a clean slate ahead of him.
"I think what I learned is you can't do more than your 100 percent," Dubois said. "If I just concentrate on doing my job and doing what I can do well day in and day out, then I've done everything I could."
Dubois is set to make his Capitals debut on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils, and the most important key for him will be to just do what he does best: be himself, and he'll find success.
"Now I can adapt and learn... I got to stay true to what I can do and who I am as a player," he said.
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