The Washington Capitals have acquired center Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper. Dubois, who signed an eight-year, $68 million contract with the Kings last year, had a disappointing season with just 16 goals and 24 assists. The trade allows the Kings to clear Dubois' substantial cap hit, while the Capitals hope Dubois can realize his potential as a top-tier center. Kuemper, who struggled with the Capitals last season and lost his starting job, returns to the Kings where he will immediately bolster their goaltending depth. Both teams did not retain any salary in the one-for-one deal, providing cap flexibility for future moves.