How Pierre-Luc Dubois Will Beef Up the Kings' Forward Corps
What does L.A.'s newest acquisition bring to the table?
Even if we brush aside the off-ice nonsense, Pierre-Luc Dubois is a deeply frustrating player. Depending on his mood, the 25-year-old pivot can be a two-way force or a total passenger.
Consequently, the 2016 third overall pick now finds himself on his third NHL club. His spotty performances are impossible to ignore. Then again…so is his upside. The ingredients are there for a true difference-maker, and Rob Blake is the latest GM to believe his team can coax that lofty potential out of him.
Here’s why the Kings are bullish on the Jekyll-and-Hyde center.
Power Game
The biggest selling point here is that, well, he’s a BIG top-six center. Swift-skating, high-caliber forwards who happen to stand 6’4” and 214 pounds don’t exactly grow on trees.
While we’ve only caught glimpses of Dubois’ ceiling thus far—and there’s no telling whether he’ll ever reach it—his frame remains a nightmare to deal with. Is he a bruising power forward? Not really. He has his ornery moments, but the main benefit of his size is puck protection.
Defensemen often have no clue how to wrestle control away from him:
And there’s a ton of room for improvement too. He shows opponents more of the puck than, say, Leon Draisaitl or Jack Eichel do. He also fails to capitalize on inside leverage at times, not recognizing when he should involve his teammates or when he should apply pressure on the defense himself.
Observing possession maven Anze Kopitar up close should refine his game down low. After all, the Kings’ captain has made a career out of effortlessly shielding the puck from defenders.
At any rate, Dubois can already absorb contact and claim the battles that frequently win you the war. He’s simply a physical specimen:
Watch how he denies Jack McBain’s (ARI 22) cutback attempt and still beats J.J. Moser (ARI 90) to the punch in order to extend Winnipeg’s time on attack. That wingspan will surely boost L.A.’s forecheck and cycle next season.
Of course, his mass also comes in handy near the crease. Dubois can overwhelm defenders thanks to his build and quick hands in tight. He stays active in net-front scenarios, spinning off checks and working to free up his stick. When he puts his mind to it—a recurring concern with this player—he’s a proper handful to contain:
Beyond the traditional power forward arsenal, he’s fond of JVR-esque back-to-the-basket tricks that generate a wealth of chances from the goal line. This resulted in excellent numbers in 2022-23 (all situations):
15th in the league in high-danger chances (1st on the Jets)
Dubois’ lone weakness with the puck is a tendency to overcook his decisions. Taking the ice alongside a play-driving winger like Kevin Fiala should mitigate that paralysis by analysis and allow him to chart straighter lines into the heart of the defense.
Just attack.
Defense
More good news for the Kings: Unlike many top-six forwards, Dubois isn’t averse to actually playing defense either. He may not earn Selke Trophy consideration—especially not on a squad that features Phillip Danault and Kopitar—but he has experience with tough matchups and the skill set required to handle them.
On an L.A. club that drops back and dares the opposition to carve a path through multiple bodies, he’ll represent one of the largest obstacles. He’s rangy, fast and tracks the puck well in the trenches.
Shaking him off is a tall task:
He’s no stranger to outmuscling the competition, but it’s really all about that reach. It borders on unfair, as he can seemingly break plays up while he’s standing in another city. Combine that with his wheels, and you’ve got a forward who can canvas every inch of the ice.
Since the Kings were equipped with a pair of responsible centers, however, Dubois’ defensive impact may manifest itself most strongly in the neutral zone.
L.A. would be wise to deploy him as a disruptor rather than a shutdown artist. Within the team’s 1-3-1 posture, his length and nose for the puck can help L.A. smother offenses before they can even spot the last man back.
Consider this sequence vs. the Nashville Predators:
Against most opponents, Juuso Parssinen (NSH 75) barrels downhill here to launch his club’s attack. But Dubois isn’t your average player. Thanks to his size and timing, all it takes is one stride for him to strip Parssinen of possession. This ability to corral puck-carriers early should offer L.A. ample counter opportunities and more O-zone time in general.
It’s worth noting that his defensive metrics were nothing to write home about last year, but context matters. In terms of team philosophy, Jets vs. Kings is an apples-to-oranges comparison.
Dubois’ new squad plays a considerably tighter game, and his attributes should enable him to slide right into the mix.
Although L.A. paid a steep price for a center whose career high sits at 63 points, the gamble is understandable. Fiala needed a more established running mate and the Kings are making one final championship push in the Kopitar-Doughty era.
Moreover, Dubois hasn’t peaked yet.
He’s one of the “toolsiest” players in hockey, and if you can get him to finally put them all together, you’ll unleash a monster.