Pierre-Luc Dubois
Pierre-Luc Dubois is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on June 24, 1998, in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, Dubois was drafted third overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 220 pounds, he is noted for his powerful two-way play and ability to score in key moments.
Across his NHL career, Dubois has also represented the Winnipeg Jets and Los Angeles Kings, and he signed an eight-year, $68 million contract in 2023. He is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States and has represented Canada in multiple IIHF World Championships, earning two silver medals.
Early Life and Background
Pierre-Luc Dubois was born on June 24, 1998, in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, and grew up in Rimouski. His mother, Jill, is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, which gave Dubois dual citizenship in Canada and the United States. His father, Éric Dubois, is a former professional ice hockey player who competed in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in Germany and now serves as defensive coach of the Manitoba Moose.
Dubois began playing hockey at age three while living in Germany with his family. He has an older sister, Daphne. His early exposure to professional hockey through his father helped shape his understanding of the game before he returned to North America to pursue his own career.
Path to Hockey
Dubois played in the 2010 and 2011 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with the Rimouski Océanic minor team, gaining early visibility in Quebec’s competitive youth hockey system. He was then drafted fifth overall by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft and began his major junior career in the 2014–15 season. In his rookie year, he finished as the QMJHL’s top-scoring 16-year-old, signaling his projection as a future NHL prospect.
Leading into the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Dubois was ranked as the top North American skater by scouts, who described him as a multi-dimensional player capable of influencing games in multiple ways. On December 11, 2016, he was traded to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada to complete his junior development. He also represented Canada at the 2016 World Junior selection camp as one of only two 17-year-olds invited.
Pierre-Luc Dubois Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
On June 24, 2016, his 18th birthday, Dubois was selected third overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and signed a three-year entry-level contract on June 29, 2016. After attending Columbus’s development camp, he was returned to junior for the 2016–17 season and reported to the Blue Jackets for the 2017–18 season, where he centered a line with Artemi Panarin and Josh Anderson.
Dubois scored his first NHL goal on October 6, 2017, against the New York Islanders in a 5–0 win, and recorded his first NHL hat-trick on March 29, 2018, against the Calgary Flames. The hat-trick broke the Blue Jackets’ rookie scoring record previously held by Rick Nash. On August 6, 2020, he recorded the first playoff hat-trick in franchise history in a 4–3 overtime victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Columbus Blue Jackets Era (2017–2021)
Dubois spent his first three NHL seasons establishing himself as a top-six center for the Columbus Blue Jackets. On December 31, 2020, he signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the club, but two weeks later requested a trade. The relationship between Dubois and the organization deteriorated, culminating in his being benched after the first period of a 3–2 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 21, 2021.
On January 23, 2021, Dubois was traded with a 2022 third-round pick to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic, ending his Columbus tenure. Across his time with the Blue Jackets, he appeared in multiple playoff rounds and built a reputation as a power forward capable of producing in high-leverage situations.
Winnipeg Jets Era (2021–2023)
Dubois joined the Jets during the 2020–21 season, which was played in the all-Canadian North Division due to the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring a two-week quarantine that limited his preparation. He scored his first two goals as a Jet on February 21, 2021, against the Vancouver Canucks, including the overtime winner. Despite a late-season injury, he helped the Jets sweep the Edmonton Oilers in the first round before they were swept by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round.
In 2021–22, Dubois posted 28 goals and 32 assists, setting a new career high in goals and nearly matching his best points total. With the Jets missing the playoffs, he joined Team Canada for the 2022 IIHF World Championship and reached the final, earning his second silver medal. After declining to sign a long-term extension, he accepted a one-year, $6 million qualifying offer on July 22, 2022, ahead of an eventual trade.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2023–2024)
On June 27, 2023, Dubois was traded by the Jets to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, Gabriel Vilardi, and a 2024 second-round draft pick. Upon being traded, he signed an eight-year, $68 million contract with the Kings, signaling a long-term commitment to the organization.
After only one season in Los Angeles, Dubois was traded to the Washington Capitals on June 19, 2024, in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper. Following the Kings’ first-round exit in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, he joined Team Canada again for the 2024 IIHF World Championship.
Washington Capitals Era (2024–Present)
Dubois joined the Washington Capitals ahead of the 2024–25 season as part of the team’s continued roster retooling. His eight-year contract runs through the 2030–31 season. As a top-six centre, he is expected to play a major role in the Capitals’ offensive core and power play.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dubois is recognized for his size, physicality, and ability to play a 200-foot game at centre. He combines puck protection along the boards with a strong shot and the willingness to drive to the net. His versatility allows coaches to deploy him in all situations, including the power play and penalty kill.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Dubois’s signature moments are his first NHL goal against the New York Islanders in 2017, his franchise-record rookie hat-trick against the Calgary Flames in 2018, and the first playoff hat-trick in Blue Jackets history against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2020. He has also represented Canada in four IIHF World Championships, earning two silver medals in 2019 and 2022.
Pierre-Luc Dubois Career Wins
Dubois has accumulated significant offensive production across the QMJHL, NHL, and international stage since his draft year in 2016. His progression from a top junior scorer to a reliable NHL centre has been marked by hat-tricks, playoff contributions, and World Championship medals.
NHL Highlights
Dubois registered 28 goals and 32 assists during the 2021–22 season with the Winnipeg Jets, establishing a new career high in goals. He recorded his first NHL hat-trick on March 29, 2018, and added a historic playoff hat-trick on August 6, 2020, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Across stops with Columbus, Winnipeg, Los Angeles, and Washington, he has continued to be a regular top-six contributor.
International Highlights
Dubois represented Canada at the 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2024 IIHF World Championships, helping the team reach the gold-medal game in 2019 and 2022. He earned silver medals on both occasions, finishing the 2022 tournament with seven goals and six assists in 10 games as one of Canada’s top performers.
Pierre-Luc Dubois Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Dubois comes from a hockey family with clear roots in the professional game. His father, Éric Dubois, played professionally in Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga and later became defensive coach of the Manitoba Moose, the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets. His mother, Jill, is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, which granted Pierre-Luc dual Canadian-American citizenship. He also has an older sister, Daphne.
Personal Life
Dubois began skating and playing hockey at age three while living in Germany with his father. He grew up primarily in Rimouski, Quebec, where he developed through minor hockey before entering the QMJHL. His dual citizenship has connected him to both Canadian and American communities throughout his career.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 calendar year, Dubois is in the early stages of his tenure with the Washington Capitals following his June 2024 trade from Los Angeles. His eight-year contract provides long-term stability as he anchors the team’s top-six centre group. The Capitals are expected to rely on his blend of scoring and two-way play as they pursue a return to playoff contention.
Dubois’s international résumé, highlighted by two IIHF World Championship silver medals, signals continued value on the global stage if he is selected for future tournaments. His pairing with established veterans in Washington is designed to maximize his offensive output in the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons. With multiple seasons remaining on his contract through 2031, Dubois remains a central figure in the Capitals’ long-term plans.
