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Greg Wyshynski, ESPN
Los Angeles Kings normal supervisor Rob Blake mentioned that the workforce won’t purchase out the contract of maligned star heart Pierre-Luc Dubois, who struggled in his first season with the workforce.
The Kings acquired Dubois from the Winnipeg Jets in a blockbuster commerce final June. Los Angeles despatched forwards Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari and Gabriel Vilardi and a 2024 second-round choose for Dubois, who was signed to an 8-year, $68 million contract ($8.5 million common annual worth) that kicked on this season.
Dubois, 25, had 40 factors in 82 video games for the Kings, a 23-point drop in manufacturing. Dubois had one purpose and 20 penalty minutes in 5 playoff video games towards the Edmonton Oilers, who eradicated the Kings within the first spherical for the third straight season.
Whereas hypothesis across the league was that the Kings would possibly discover a buyout with Dubois, the workforce’s normal supervisor shut that down.
“We have to make him higher,” Blake mentioned Monday, whereas additionally confirming that he’ll stay the final supervisor for the Kings. “He is had a constant efficiency over his profession to this point and deviated from that this 12 months. It is as much as us to assist him grow to be extra productive to us.”
“It is out of my management,” Debois mentioned of a contract buyout or commerce this summer time throughout Kings gamers’ remaining media availability final week. “I can solely management what I can management.”
Dubois put the blame on himself for his first-year flop in Los Angeles.
“If play like I can play, we’re not having these questions proper now. I take the blame. I take accountability. It is on me,” he mentioned. “I am dedicated to having a greater season. I will do something to be higher.”
Dubois mentioned it was a difficult transition going from Winnipeg to Los Angeles, and from enjoying in a extra defensive system to having his common ice time (15:42) drop by practically three minutes per recreation over final season (18:27). “Whenever you present as much as a brand new workforce, there’s lots of new roles and new programs. I performed on lots of strains this 12 months. I feel any participant on the finish of the day needs consistency, understanding who you are going on the market with,” Dubois mentioned.
Los Angeles is the third NHL workforce for Dubois, who was drafted third total in 2016 by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets traded him in January 2021 to the Jets for winger Patrik Laine. In seven NHL seasons, Dubois has 342 factors in 516 video games.
“I am not panicking. I am not pressured. Was it irritating? Certain. However [my game] will not be misplaced. I simply obtained to get again to it, and that is on me,” he mentioned.