Kings GM Rob Blake Does Nicely with Dubois for Kuemper Commerce
TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button joined Jay Onrait on SportsCenter to debate the commerce of Pierre-Luc Dubois being traded by the Los Angeles Kings to the Washington Capitals for Darcy Kuemper and the way Kings GM Rob Blake was capable of get out of such a nasty contract.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
NHL Commerce: Pierre-Luc Dubois Traded for Darcy Kuemper
Jay Onrait: Craig as you understand, there was one other large commerce on Wednesday and the commerce was one-for-one. The Kings traded Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Capitals in change for goaltender Darcy Kemper. Dubois simply accomplished the primary season of an eight-year $68 million extension he signed in June of final 12 months after being traded to LA from Winnipeg. He didn’t have such an incredible first season with the Kings, becoming a member of his fourth crew in simply eight seasons within the NHL.
As for Kuemper, he misplaced his beginning job to Charlie Lindgren this 12 months. He’s getting into the third 12 months of a five-year contract he signed with the Caps in 2022. He was with the Kings beforehand as a backup to Jonathan Fast. To begin with, at one level, Craig and, you and I talked about this earlier than the present even began there’s numerous hypothesis that Kings would possibly simply would possibly simply purchase out Pierre-Luc Dubois contract altogether.
The truth that Rob Blake truly received a participant for Dubois, acquire some cap house and actually addressed a necessity as a result of the Kings did want a beginning goaltender and Kuemper has been good in LA beforehand. General did you give Rob Blake an A grade for this deal?
NHL Rumors: Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings, and the Vancouver Canucks
Craig Button: I do and I’ll give him an A grade for quite a few causes. And also you’re a really, very type soul, Jay. I say that on digicam. I say that off-camera since you actually are. However the backside line is so that you can say that Pierre-Luc Dubois had not so nice a season. That’s the type soul you might be as a result of what Pierre-Luc Dubois had was an abysmal season.
It was terrible in each single regard, and that was after Rob Blake had made a giant commerce final summer time with the Winnipeg Jets to accumulate Pierre-Luc Dubois and to enroll to that contract. I believe it’s at all times troublesome for a Basic Supervisor to face up and go, we made a mistake. It didn’t work out. Perhaps it’s our fault. Perhaps it’s Pierre-Luc Dubois fault, however we’re transferring on. We’re not hanging on to one thing that clearly didn’t work. And for that, that’s a giant A.
Quantity two, we all know that the LA Kings have been in on goaltenders; we all know that Linus Ullmark was doubtlessly a goaltender that would have ended up in LA. However on the finish of the day, what Rob Blake knew is he had to enhance his goaltending. This can be a superb defensive crew and Darcy Kuemper, who has confirmed that he generally is a actually good strong goaltender behind a extremely good strong defensive crew.
NHL Commerce Evaluation: Calgary Flames Proceed Their Rebuild
I believe that carries important weight. He’s gained a Stanley Cup, and I believe the truth that he was in LA, and he’s any individual that’s recognized, and he’s recognized to Invoice Ranford. Invoice Ranford for me, there’s no higher goaltending coach for the Nationwide Hockey League than Invoice Ranford.
There’s a couple of which are nearly as good, however Invoice Ranford additionally is aware of this goaltender too, and the truth that they performed actually good protection is one thing that I believe is actually necessary.
The Washington Capitals have been horrible defensively, simply horrible. And I believe that impacted Darcy Kuemper. So if you begin to have a look at a state of affairs for the LA Kings with Darcy Kuemper coming in and Pierre Luc Dubois going out, I believe it’s a recognition that didn’t work with Pierre-Luc Dubois. Onto our subsequent aim. Onto our subsequent goal. I believe Rob Blake did an excellent job on this regard.”
