Pierre-Luc Dubois #80 of the Washington Capitals skates against the New York Rangers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Pierre-Luc Dubois has always been a player with immense talent and high expectations. Drafted third overall in 2016, he quickly made a name for himself as a versatile forward capable of playing a strong two-way game. Over the years, he developed into a key contributor in Columbus and Winnipeg, but when he was traded to the Washington Capitals, it marked a fresh start—one filled with opportunity. With a new team and a chance to play alongside some of the league’s biggest stars, Dubois arrived in Washington eager to make an impact. He didn’t just want to fit in; he wanted to elevate his game and help the Capitals continue their legacy of success.
Since joining Washington, Dubois has thrived in a system that values his skill set. Surrounded by a strong core of veterans and rising young talent, he has seamlessly integrated into the lineup, contributing both offensively and defensively. His ability to adapt and make a difference in key moments has been instrumental in the Capitals’ push for the top of the Eastern Conference. But beyond the stats and the wins, Dubois has embraced the culture in Washington, becoming part of a locker room that balances team success with celebrating individual achievements—especially those of captain Alex Ovechkin. His journey with the Capitals has been everything he expected and more, solidifying his place as a vital part of the team's present and future.
“I've had a few friends that have played in Washington before, so when I got traded here, they all told me what a great organization it was and what a great group of guys they have,” said Dubois in an exclusive interview with RG. “I knew there was a lot of talent in this dressing room, I knew that there's good young players coming up, there's good leadership, there's good players that have been here for a long time like Ovi, Johnny, Wilson and Dowd. So to come here and see this success that we've had, it's hard work, and it's exactly what I thought this organization, this team, was gonna be like.”
The Capitals have not only been successful as a team, but they’ve also balanced their pursuit of the Stanley Cup with the individual pursuit of one of the greatest records in hockey: Alex Ovechkin’s chase for the all-time goals record. Finding that balance isn’t always easy, but for Dubois, it’s part of what makes this season so special.
“I think that everybody on this team wants two things: we want to win the Cup, of course, but we want to help him beat the record.
To be able to win games like we've been winning this season and to see him score these big goals, these hat tricks, these game-winning goals, the game-tying goals and stuff like that makes it even more fun,” said Dubois of his captain. “We're kind of in a double chase right now, where we're chasing the team objective and we're chasing the Ovi objective. To be a part of those two things is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for everybody.”
Playing With Ovechkin
Having the chance to play alongside Ovechkin has been a career milestone for many players, and Dubois is no exception. He already has plenty of stories about the Capitals’ legendary captain, but one, in particular, stands out.
“I've only played with him for a few months, and I still have a lot of stories. For sure, one of the best ones was when I got traded here. The first text I got was from him, and then, the first call not long after. It was him, too,” said Dubois. “It was on my birthday, and he was on vacation — I think in Turkey — and just called me, welcomed me to the team, and wished me a happy birthday. As a kid you watch him play and then when I got traded it's like ‘Oh, I'm gonna get to play with him!’. But to get that call was kind of a really cool moment in my career.”
Ovechkin’s leadership extends beyond his personal milestones and onto the day-to-day energy he brings to the team. Dubois has taken notice of how the captain keeps the group focused while also making sure they enjoy the game.
Ovechkin’s ability to bounce back from injuries has also been remarkable. When he suffered a serious setback earlier this season, many wondered how long he’d be out. Instead, he returned quickly and made an immediate impact—something that didn’t surprise Dubois.
“Yeah, that's just Ovi, he's one of a kind for a lot of reasons. For the way he plays on the ice, for his personality off the ice, but also for everything like that. For a guy, I think we were talking about yesterday, he's got a lot of hits in the NHL, he's always played the game hard, he forechecks, he hits, he does all these physical things that are demanding, and he's never really been injured, knock on wood,” said Dubois. “He's gotten a few injuries here and there, but nothing too important. That just goes to the specimen and really the legend that he is.”
As the season progresses, the team remains focused on winning while also hoping to help Ovechkin break the all-time goals record sooner rather than later.
“We'd love to. The faster we get to see him beat that record, the better it is for everybody,” said Dubois.
“The excitement that the fans get when he scores, I can't imagine when he's one or two goals away from it.”
Development in Washington
Beyond the chase for a championship and a historic record, there’s also been notable individual growth on the Capitals’ roster. One player who has stood out this season is Alexei Protas. When asked about his teammate’s development, Dubois had high praise for the young forward.
“I think the first thing about Pro is he's so smart. So when you have the smarts, then after, you can figure out everything else. So Pro's always had his mind, it's always been his best tool. And then after that, as he gets older and older, he gets more confident. He grows in experience. He starts making more plays, and you've seen it throughout the season,” said Dubois of his teammate.
“Pro's really good right now, but I think throughout the season, from game one to now, he's gotten better and better as the season's gone on. And for a guy like that, it's just fun to see his development,” added Dubois.” And to have a guy like Ovi for Pro, who speaks the same language, I'm sure is huge. And the sky's the limit for Pro. He's got all the tools to be an elite player in this league. So we're really happy to have him here.”
With a strong mix of veteran leadership and young talent, the Capitals continue to push forward, making history while building for the future.
Igor Rabiner has written for Sport-Express, the biggest Russian sports website, since 1994. He has covered seven FIFA World Cups, seven Winter Olympics, and three Summer Olympics. He is the author of 28 books with total sales of over 500,000 copies. He won an AIPS Sport Media Award for best column and interviewed exclusively Pele, Wayne Gretzky, Franz Beckenbauer, Alex Ovechkin and many other soccer, ice hockey, and tennis superstars. From 2016 to 2021, he has regularly contributed to the Russian version of NHL.com. Has contributed to The Guardian, British soccer magazine The Blizzard, and other world publications. One of the authors of the encyclopedia 'Kings of Ice," which came out in North America in 2002. From 2013 to 2021, Rabiner was a co-owner and teacher in a private sports journalism school in Russia. He has 56,500 followers on X and over 25,000 readers on Telegram, Facebook and Instagram.
