Pierre-Luc Dubois hasn’t lived up to expectations since joining the Los Angeles Kings in a major trade from the Winnipeg Jets. Despite signing an eight-year deal in the summer, his performance has been disappointing, prompting a stern message from Kings head coach Todd McLellan. McLellan emphasized that Dubois, regardless of ice time, needs to be a game-changer both with and without the puck.
Dubois’ struggles are evident in his 44 games with the Kings, where he has managed only nine goals and 19 points, a significant drop from his previous season with the Jets. Averaging less than 16 minutes of ice time and holding a dismal minus-13 rating, the former third overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft has fallen short of expectations.
Kings coach Todd McLellan was pretty blunt about PLD’s play 👀
(via @NHLRussell) pic.twitter.com/31D0WfOr7m
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 23, 2024
This downturn in Dubois’ performance aligns with the Kings’ decline in the standings. While they had a strong start to the season, their recent record has been poor, winning only two games in 13 attempts. Dubois’ struggles, along with various other challenges within the team, have contributed to the decline.
Despite the disappointing results, GM Rob Blake is not currently considering making changes, emphasizing the team’s commitment to its philosophy and structure. However, if the Kings don’t see improvement soon, Blake may have to reassess the situation.
