Gabe Vilardi Post-Game Three trades and four teams in eight years since being drafted No. 3 overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2016 NHL Draft. It has been quite a ride for centreman Pierre-Luc Dubois. On Wednesday afternoon, the Los Angeles Kings shipped the bruising forward to Washington in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper. The trade was a one-for-one deal and rids the Kings of Dubois' horrific $68 million contract - $59.5 of which is set to be paid in full over the next seven years, with a full no movement clause attached. With things growing sour in Columbus, Dubois was dealt to Winnipeg in the monstrous Patrik Laine swap of 2021. He lasted just two-and-a-half seasons in Winnipeg before wanting out. Last June, Dubois signed his big money deal in a sign and trade with the Los Angeles Kings, to which Jets' GM Kevin Cheveldayoff acquired a second round pick, Gabriel Vilardi, Rasmus Kupari and Alex Iafallo - a masterclass, in retrospect. Now, less than a year after putting pen to paper on that contract, Dubois has found himself moved yet again, this time to Washington, where his return is solely that of 34-year-old goaltender Darcy Kuemper. Dubois, soon-to-be 26, had just 16 goals and 40 points in his first 82 games as a member of the Kings - surely a major disappointment following the hefty price his GM paid to acquire him. Now, the best Rob Blake could do was hope to get his money back by sending Dubois off into the sunset for an aging goaltender. At least he was able to do so before the July 1 deadline, to which a no-movement clause will kick in on Dubois' deal. Kuemper has three more years remaining on his contract at $5.25 million per.
