Dubois: Trade to Kings presents chance to 'fully be me'

Pierre-Luc Dubois is looking forward to the opportunity to let his personality shine with the Los Angeles Kings.

"Honestly, I think it's just an opportunity for me to be who I am," Dubois told NHL.com's Dan Greenspan. "I think I'm misunderstood at times, but I think a lot of people don't really know me. And that's fine. Sometimes in this world, it's hard to get to know guys. ... Now, it'll be a fun opportunity for me to just be who I am. Not show anybody, not prove to anybody, but just fully be me."

Dubois has attracted plenty of drama off the ice since being drafted third overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016. He requested a trade from the franchise and was famously benched by then-head coach John Tortorella five games into the 2021 season before being dealt to the Winnipeg Jets.

While in Winnipeg, Dubois' agent claimed his client wanted to play for the Montreal Canadiens. His one-year deal with Winnipeg in 2022 was viewed as a move to end his tenure with the Jets as quickly as possible. This offseason, Dubois told the club he wasn't interested in signing another extension and was subsequently dealt to Los Angeles in a sign-and-trade that saw him land an eight-year, $68-million contract.

Dubois said each decision he's made has been for the betterment of his career.

"I think, obviously, with demanding a trade out of Columbus, and then the situation with Winnipeg … everybody looks at those decisions, and some people agree, some people disagree. Some people think this, some people think that," Dubois said. "I mean, everybody's entitled to their own opinion, but at the end of the day, it's my life. I have to do what I think is right.

"I had three unbelievable years in Columbus, three great years in Winnipeg, where with both of those organizations I learned a lot and met some unbelievable people. But I felt I was ready to move on and do a new chapter in my career and in my life. And now I'm here in L.A."

Dubois registered a career-high 63 points in 73 games last season and added four in five playoff contests as the Jets were ousted in the first round.