I think playing for Tortorella is probably a special kind of circumstance, particularly if you get in his wrath. Look, by all accounts DuBois came to camp with the right attitude – having asked for a trade, but committed to playing well and winning as long as he remained on the Blue Jackets. He’s refused to speak publicly, or with the team, about why he wants out – avoiding unnecessary tensions that plagued Panarin’s last season there. During game 1 it was newly-acquired Domi’s line that was benched, with DuBois giving it his all.
Something has clearly changed in the last game or two that we don’t know about. But I find it difficult to accept that it would be impossible for Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Vrana or any number of talented guys on our roster to not be described as having an ‘attitude problem’ if they were playing for Tortorella while trying to leave. DuBois has been pivotal in keeping his team afloat since Panarin left, and I haven’t seen any suggestion before this season that DuBois has an attitude or professionalism problem.
Frankly, you look at some of the stuff we’re dealing with on our roster – a disengaged Kuzy, suspension for cocaine use, reckless ATV accidents while the season is paused, breaches of COVID-19 rules – I’m not sure we’re in a position to talk.
Do I think DuBois is coming to Washington? No. Do I think a Kuzy-DuBois swap could work (for Washington, at least)? Yeah. Have I seen reason to think DuBois would be a bad presence in the locker room or lacklustre player if reasonably coached on a good team in a decent city? No.
we know he can score in RS. I guess we cant analyze his game until actual playoffs.
