Washington Capitals forward Pierre-Luc Dubois is sidelined for 3-4 months following surgery to repair abdominal and adductor muscle injuries. The team announced the news Sunday, revealing that the 27-year-old underwent the procedure on Friday.
Dubois' injury occurred during the first period of the Capitals' 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders on October 31. He buckled after a faceoff against Jean-Gabriel Pageau and had to be helped off the ice by teammates. This setback comes after Dubois had just returned from a previous lower-body injury, limiting him to only six games this season where he has not recorded a point. He's averaging 15:32 of ice time per game and has nine shots on goal and six hits.
Capitals coach Spencer Carbery had previously mentioned on November 3 that Dubois would be out for an "extended period," with the team evaluating whether surgery would be necessary. Carbery stated on Nov. 5, "No, we do not think it's going to be season-ending, just an extended period of time at this point". The recent announcement confirms the need for surgery and provides a clearer timeline for his recovery. The current prognosis suggests a return to the ice in late February or March.
Last season, his first with Washington after a trade from the Los Angeles Kings for goalie Darcy Kuemper on June 19, 2024, Dubois tallied a career-high 66 points (20 goals, 46 assists) in 82 games. Drafted third overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016, Dubois has accumulated 408 points (165 goals, 243 assists) in 604 regular-season games across his time with the Blue Jackets, Winnipeg Jets, Kings, and Capitals, along with 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 53 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
With Dubois absent, Connor McMichael is currently filling the role of second-line center. Since Dubois' injury, the Capitals have a record of 1-2-1. McMichael, who had a strong season last year with 26 goals and 57 points, has only one point since moving to the 2C role and four points through 15 games this year. Other centers in the lineup, Hendrix Lapierre and Nic Dowd, have a combined total of six points this season.
Dubois' injury could potentially push the Capitals into the market for a center addition if the team's other centers can't generate sufficient offense.
The Washington Capitals (7-7-1) are currently outside the playoff picture with 15 points in 15 games. They are scheduled to visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.
