Around the League Thread | The one where Florida blows it…?

[MS]

That's a fair point that I didn't consider regarding their overall team outlook, but they're committing 60 million dollars to a guy who barely gives a shit half of the time (and certainly won't be happy living in Washington over his preferred glamorous LA) instead of 15 million dollars for an old goalie. You might as well just give Matt Duchene some short contract and rinse and repeat each year until Ovechkin hits the record.

And like, eventually the rebuild happens when Dubois is still around, and that's not someone I want near young players.

I get that. But he's also a guy who competed just fine in his last two years in Winnipeg.

I wouldn't be taking him for where we're at, but for that team in that situation ... I think it's a pretty solid move.

And I think, again, that there has been a pretty huge overreaction here to one bad season. In, like, February of 2023 before his trade demand from Winnipeg became a big thing basically every fanbase in the NHL would have jumped to have this guy on their team for like, $6 million, if not $8 million. He's kind of become the poster boy/scapegoat for spoiled modern-day NHLers that people really, really, really love to hate on and watch fail.

I get that. But if he continues to be a 40 point player, then I don't care what stage they are in their cycle, its going to be one of the worst trades in recent history.

He's probably not going to continue to be a 40-point player.

LA was a weird situation where they had Kopitar and Danault in place, his minutes dropped in a huge way, he went from PP1 to PP2 (most of his production drop was directly PP related) ... and as much as his effort level in a bad situation wasn't great, it just wasn't a good fit. He's going to go from that to playing 20 minutes + PP1.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

I was about to post this be all like, "Sorry guys. We no longer own the best value for a goaltender."

OEL was bad but at least we traded essentially a handful of nothing players for him and actually good talent back in Garland. LA punted on two players who handedly outplayed PLD, a prospect and their 1st for f***ing Kuemper.

 

[Bojack Horvatman]

The thing is, he did work out in Columbus (61 points at age 20) until he lost interest, quit on his team and forced a trade.

And then he worked out in Winnipeg ... until he forced a trade again.

It's not like he hasn't had 3-4 NHL seasons where he's been a legitimately good player worthy of that contract, in a vacuum. It's just that he's an entitled flake who sulks and pouts when things go his way, and that's been the case for as much of his career as he's been good.

Some time over the next 5 years I have little doubt that he'll put up a 60-70 point quality two-way season. It's just whether he'll put up 4 of them in the next 5 years or 1 of them.

I’m not a Dubois fan, and I was very negative of the LA deal and the contract they gave him. That being said, Washington could be a fit for him. The reason being I don’t think the sulking and pouting is based on team performance like we saw here with Miller and Pettersson at times. He made the playoffs 6 of 7 years of his career. There will be a lot less accountability in Washington and will be probably be given a top 6 role for the next number of years. Although he has never played for a rebuilding team so we’ll see how it plays out.

I think LA did good in getting out of the Dubois contract when he obviously was not a fit in the locker room, but the moves to get him and make cap space for him…just wow. I don’t think Blake would still be employed if he wasn’t a Kings legend.

 

[BimJenning]

LA must intend on using Kuemper, given that buyout for an under 26 player isn't even bad... Unless Washington is intending to do the same with CapFriendly

 

[Wisp]

PLD is only 24, i like the chances of him working out in a different environment.

PLD is only 22, i like the chances of him working out in a different environment.

He did work out in those environments! He gave them good seasons! Solid production! Not wanting to play long term in Winnipeg and Columbus is hardly a character flaw. He's just unfortunate to get drafted by one and traded to another.

LA should have been the final stop, but for whatever reason a lot of shit didn't work out. I don't actually think we'll of the Kings on the ice, they over reacted to some bad luck, doubled down on a dud coach that resorted to the 1-3-1.

 

[arttk]

I ... am I the only one who doesn't mind this for Washington, given where they're at?

They essentially spent $3 million in cap space to upgrade from their bad old backup goalie to a C who scored at a 70-point pace in 22-23. They care about the last couple years of Ovechkin and trying to squeak him into the playoffs and get him his record, and they're a better team with a better balance sheet than yesterday. The last few years of the contract are a 'who cares' to them because they'll be in the middle of a rebuild.

I'm much more on the LOL Kings boat here. What a clusterf*** of a series of transactions.

And I think that the reaction to Dubois has swung too far into the 'so overrated/criticized he's now underrated' zone.

Yeah as soon as you realize the caps’ goal is not to compete and is to juice Ovie’s numbers, it’s a fine trade.

 

[Wisp]

LA must intend on using Kuemper, given that buyout for an under 26 player isn't even bad... Unless Washington is intending to do the same with CapFriendly

The buyout period only opens 48 games after the Stanley Cup final.

Guess when Dubois's 26th birthday is? lol

 

[God]

I get that. But he's also a guy who competed just fine in his last two years in Winnipeg.

I wouldn't be taking him for where we're at, but for that team in that situation ... I think it's a pretty solid move.

And I think, again, that there has been a pretty huge overreaction here to one bad season. In, like, February of 2023 before his trade demand from Winnipeg became a big thing basically every fanbase in the NHL would have jumped to have this guy on their team for like, $6 million, if not $8 million. He's kind of become the poster boy/scapegoat for spoiled modern-day NHLers that people really, really, really love to hate on and watch fail.



He's probably not going to continue to be a 40-point player.

LA was a weird situation where they had Kopitar and Danault in place, his minutes dropped in a huge way, he went from PP1 to PP2 (most of his production drop was directly PP related) ... and as much as his effort level in a bad situation wasn't great, it just wasn't a good fit. He's going to go from that to playing 20 minutes + PP1.

He's competed when he has a goal in mind: getting traded or getting a contract. His PP time dropped, but it was because he wasn't very good and Byfield and him switched back and forth (probably depending on game situation).

I think I'm convinced that he's probably going to a better place for a rebound in his career, but I still don't know why any team would want to take that chance with the financial commitment.

 

[BimJenning]

The buyout period only opens 48 games after the Stanley Cup final.

Guess when Dubois's 26th birthday is? lol

Good catch, haha. Makes sense then

 

[StreetHawk]

The buyout period only opens 48 games after the Stanley Cup final.

Guess when Dubois's 26th birthday is? lol

Well, also not 100% sure it's just by birthday. Friedman wondered, but never got confirmation of whether it is like the draft or free agency where it's based on age as of a certain date? Free agency is age as of July 1. Draft is age as of Sept 15. Same with the age you are deemed when you sign your elc.

 

[Hodgy]

He's probably not going to continue to be a 40-point player.

LA was a weird situation where they had Kopitar and Danault in place, his minutes dropped in a huge way, he went from PP1 to PP2 (most of his production drop was directly PP related) ... and as much as his effort level in a bad situation wasn't great, it just wasn't a good fit. He's going to go from that to playing 20 minutes + PP1.

He's been a 40 point player two of his last four years.

I'm not disagreeing with you, and in fact have agreed that I think he's probably going to bounce back and this will end up being a good trade for Washington. But if he continues to be a 40 point player, which is possible but perhaps unlikely, its going to be a terrible trade.

 

[Flik]

I guess we don't need to worry about LA emerging as a major threat during this next contending window so at least we got that goin' for us.

 

[ManVanFan]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1803467901120258545

 

[Wisp]

I guess we don't need to worry about LA emerging as a major threat during this next contending window so at least we got that goin' for us.

Not with their current coach. Hopefully they are hit with some age related decline before they figure it out.

 

[quat]

Holy heck LA did it

F Washington hope they finish last every year.

Also we look kinda bad stuck with mik after goodrow and pld anchors moved for almost free.

I think Alvin and Co still like Mik and may even expect him to return something of value or possibly play again next season for the team. Either that, or they're exceptionally good at not leaking anything they don't want out there, and we'll all be surprised once again.

 

[Egghead1999]

A lot of assets given up for Kuemper lol

Kuemper was with kings before C19, it is a lot of assets for one season(??) of bad PLD

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

Would you look at that.... the poster I mentioned in the prior thread is back with his laugh emoji reactions.

 

[StreetHawk]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1803467901120258545

Have the flames hit on picks since Tkachuk in 2016?
Picks sound great until they get used and you need to develop the player.

 

[Kryten]

Those Flames 1sts would be better used as bundles to move up in the drafts

 

[Vector]

Those Flames 1sts would be better used as bundles to move up in the drafts

Given the way they tend to draft in the first round, they are betting off just setting the picks on fire than wasting a contract spot and money on them.

 

[bossram]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1803467901120258545

Just don't call it a rebuild or Murray Edwards will be pissed.

 

[ProviesGhost]

Huberdeau must be a happy camper LMAO

 

[VanJack]

A lot of GM's were probably hoping the Cup Final would end last night---and they can't wait any longer. A flurry of deals and signings around the league.

A year after acquiring Pierre Luc Dubois from the Jets at a cost of Valardi, Kupari, Iafallo and a second round draft pick; the Kings trade him to the Capitals in a salary cap dump for Darcy Keumper, who at this point in his career is a 34-year old journeyman goaltender.

The Jets made out like porch pirates on this one. For the Kings it's a disastrous result that hollows out their lineup depth and prospect pool. Seems like just yesterday they had one of the best prospect pools in entire NHL. But they let it just trickle away.

Blake reminds me of Jim Benning. Rarely do you win a trade outright, and there are no shortcuts.

 

[StreetHawk]

A lot of GM's were probably hoping the Cup Final would end last night---and they can't wait any longer. A flurry of deals and signings around the league.

A year after acquiring Pierre Luc Dubois from the Jets at a cost of Valardi, Kupari, Iafallo and a second round draft pick; the Kings trade him to the Capitals in a salary cap dump for Darcy Keumper, who at this point in his career is a 34-year old journeyman goaltender.

The Jets made out like porch pirates on this one. For the Kings it's a disastrous result that hollows out their lineup depth and prospect pool. Seems like just yesterday they had one of the best prospect pools in entire NHL. But they let it just trickle away.

Blake reminds me of Jim Benning. Rarely do you win a trade outright, and there are no shortcuts.

Maybe their prospect pool was overrated.

Vilardi at his age like not really a prospect anymore at the time of the trade. Faber, Kupari, helge would say yes.
They waived Bjornfort and also Fagemo.

Impact kid is Faber. Rest so far just meh and no impact….

 

[Flik]

Not with their current coach. Hopefully they are hit with some age related decline before they figure it out.

I also think their current management is pretty clueless as well, but good on them for cutting their losses on PLD I guess lol