Pierre-Luc Dubois may have considered playing for the Montreal Canadiens, but when the Los Angeles Kings knocked on the door, he didn’t hesitate.
The Quebecer has already started exploring his new city, which is warmer than Winnipeg or Columbus, and the contrast may be stark for him. You don’t have to look far to be entertained in the City of Angels.
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“There’s a lot to love about this city and this place,” he said Monday during his first media appearance in Los Angeles. […] Of course, hockey is my job and I have to be on the ice to win and eventually win a Stanley Cup, but I also spend time outside. I feel like I can’t be in a bad mood in this city.
The sun attracts many talented players, but Los Angeles has much more to offer than its beaches and lively neighborhoods. The Kings, still led by Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, may be aiming for major accolades in the years to come.
“It was a long process,” Dubois said of the negotiations. When I found out the Kings were interested, the decision was easy for me.
Immediately after joining the Jets, he also signed an eight-year contract for $8.5 million.
Not a word about Montreal
Aside from speaking about his childhood, Dubois didn’t mention Montreal — let alone the Canadiens — to the media. When asked by his agent about his interest in playing for the Bleu Blanc Rouge, he recalled that rumors from the corridors were seldom accurate.
“There were so many rumours. “As a player, as a person, there are times when I just wanted to pick up the microphone and say everything,” admitted the attacker. We had to stay patient and positive. Some things that were said I didn’t actually say or I didn’t necessarily agree with. It’s part of the job and can sometimes be less fun.
After Dubois set a career-high 63 points last season, Dubois is aiming even higher. He’s been in the National League for six seasons and the call for the Stanley Cup keeps growing.
“Sometimes I feel like a young veteran. I’m only 25, I still have a lot to learn. I still have a lot of experience. I want to help the younger players and learn from the older ones,” he said.