Pierre-Luc Dubois Bio
Pierre-Luc Dubois is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays 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. He has also played for the Winnipeg Jets and Los Angeles Kings, building a reputation as a powerful two-way forward capable of influencing games through scoring and physical play.
Standing 193 cm tall and weighing 100 kg, Dubois uses his size and skill to drive play from the middle of the ice. He signed an eight-year, $68 million contract in 2023 and has represented Team Canada at multiple IIHF World Championships, reaching the final on three occasions.
Early Life and Background
Pierre-Luc Dubois was born on June 24, 1998, in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, but grew up in Rimouski. He began playing hockey at the age of three in Germany, where his father Éric Dubois was playing in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. His father is a former professional ice hockey player and currently serves as a defensive coach for the Manitoba Moose, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets. Dubois has an older sister named Daphne, and his mother Jill is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, making him a dual citizen of Canada and the United States.
Dubois played in the 2010 and 2011 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with the Rimouski Océanic minor ice hockey team, gaining early exposure to high-level competition. His family background in hockey gave him a clear path into competitive youth leagues and helped shape his development as a forward.
Path to Hockey
Dubois was drafted by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the first round, fifth overall, of the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft, and he began his major junior career with the Screaming Eagles in the 2014–15 season. In his rookie season, Dubois was the league’s top-scoring 16-year-old, signalling his potential as a future NHL talent. On December 11, 2016, he was traded to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, where he continued to develop his game.
Leading up to the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Dubois was the top-ranked North American skater and was described as a multi-dimensional player possessing the ability to influence a game in a number of ways. On December 1, 2015, he was announced as one of 30 players invited to the Canadian selection camp for the 2016 World Junior Hockey Championships, and he was one of only two 17-year-olds on that list. These achievements set the stage for his transition to professional hockey.
Pierre-Luc Dubois Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
On June 24, 2016, his 18th birthday, Dubois was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets third overall at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. On June 29, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Columbus. He was invited to the Blue Jackets’ development camp but was sent back to junior for the 2016–17 season, after which he was traded to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
His strong play at the junior level prepared him for his first full NHL season, and the Blue Jackets were confident that his combination of size, skill, and hockey sense would translate quickly to the professional game.
Columbus Blue Jackets Era (2017–2021)
Dubois began the 2017–18 season in the NHL, playing centre to wingers Artemi Panarin and Josh Anderson. He scored his first career NHL goal on October 6, 2017, against the New York Islanders in a 5–0 win, and his first career NHL hat-trick on March 29, 2018, against the Calgary Flames. With that hat-trick, Dubois broke the Blue Jackets rookie scoring record previously held by Rick Nash.
On August 6, 2020, Dubois recorded the first playoff hat-trick in Blue Jackets franchise history in a 4–3 overtime victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs. On December 31, 2020, he signed a two-year, $10 million contract with Columbus, but two weeks later requested a trade. The situation between Dubois and the Blue Jackets became increasingly tense, and after being benched during a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 21, 2021, he was traded on January 23, 2021, with a 2022 third-round pick to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic.
Winnipeg Jets Era (2021–2023)
Dubois’s first season with the Jets was complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic’s North Division schedule, a two-week quarantine, and injuries. He sustained an injury in only his second game with the team and missed four games. On February 21, in just his third game with the Jets, he scored his first two goals as a Winnipeg Jet in a 4–3 overtime win against the Vancouver Canucks, with his second goal serving as the overtime winner. The Jets qualified for the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, sweeping the Edmonton Oilers before being swept by the Montreal Canadiens, and Dubois finished with only three assists in seven playoff games.
The 2021–22 season saw a major improvement for Dubois, who scored 28 goals and registered 32 assists, setting a new career high in goals. The Winnipeg Sun remarked that he embodied everything the Jets wanted in their lineup and leadership core, though the team ultimately missed the playoffs. On July 22, 2022, Dubois accepted a one-year, $6 million qualifying offer from the Jets after reports indicated he would not sign a long-term deal and wished to be traded to the Montreal Canadiens.
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, signalling a long-term commitment to Los Angeles.
After only one season with the Kings, Dubois was traded to the Washington Capitals on June 19, 2024, in exchange for Darcy Kuemper, beginning a new chapter in his career.
Washington Capitals Era (2024–Present)
Dubois joined the Washington Capitals ahead of the 2024–25 season following his trade from Los Angeles. His move to the Capitals brought a powerful, experienced centre to Washington and added another chapter to a career that has already spanned three NHL franchises.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dubois is recognized for his powerful two-way play, combining size with the ability to score and create offense. He excels at driving play through the middle of the ice, using his 193 cm frame to win battles and protect the puck, while also contributing as a playmaker. His scoring instincts and physical presence have made him a valuable top-six centre throughout his NHL career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Dubois broke the Columbus Blue Jackets rookie scoring record previously held by Rick Nash with a hat-trick on March 29, 2018, and recorded the first playoff hat-trick in Blue Jackets franchise history on August 6, 2020. He has also represented Team Canada at three IIHF World Championship finals, earning silver medals each time, and was drafted third overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Pierre-Luc Dubois Career Wins
Pierre-Luc Dubois has built a steady record of offensive production across his NHL career, highlighted by a 28-goal season with the Winnipeg Jets in 2021–22 and a record-breaking rookie campaign with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2017–18. While he has not yet won a Stanley Cup, his individual accomplishments include franchise milestones and consistent top-six production.
NHL Highlights
Dubois’s first NHL goal came on October 6, 2017, against the New York Islanders, and his first hat-trick came on March 29, 2018, against the Calgary Flames, when he also set the Blue Jackets rookie scoring record. He has posted multiple 20-goal seasons in the NHL and has been a key contributor on every team he has played for since entering the league in 2017.
International Play
Dubois has represented Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship on multiple occasions, reaching the final three times. He earned silver medals in 2019, 2022, and 2024, and was named to Canada’s senior team for the 2018 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded three goals and four assists in nine games.
Pierre-Luc Dubois Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Dubois comes from a hockey family, with his father Éric Dubois being a former professional ice hockey player who played in Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga. Éric is currently a defensive coach for the Manitoba Moose, the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets. Dubois has an older sister, Daphne, and his mother Jill is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, giving him dual Canadian and American citizenship.
Personal Life
Dubois began playing hockey at the age of three while living in Germany, where his father was playing professionally. He holds dual citizenship in Canada and the United States through his mother. He grew up in Rimouski, Quebec, after being born in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Pierre-Luc Dubois is in the early stages of his tenure with the Washington Capitals following his June 2024 trade from Los Angeles. His long-term contract runs through 2031, giving Washington a stable top-six centre for the foreseeable future. The Capitals will look to Dubois to provide scoring, size, and leadership as they build their competitive core.
Dubois’s track record of producing 20-plus goal seasons and performing in high-pressure situations, including multiple IIHF World Championship finals, suggests he can be a central figure in Washington’s offensive plans. His combination of playoff experience and physical play will be valuable assets as the team navigates the 2024–25 season and looks toward future playoff contention.