Screenshot: Katie Adler/RMNB
Pierre-Luc Dubois took another step toward a return to game action for the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
According to the Washington Post’s Bailey Johnson, the 27-year-old center, who had previously only been involved in individual sessions on the ice, skated with the rest of his teammates in Nashville for the first time since undergoing surgery on November 7.
While the progress is positive, Dubois is still sporting a light blue no-contact jersey and is not expected to dress for the Caps until after the Olympic break.
The Capitals initially stated that Dubois would miss 3-4 months after his surgery, putting him on pace for a February or March comeback. The team’s first game after the 2026 Winter Olympics is at home against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 25.
Dubois initially suffered his injury against the New York Islanders on October 31, staying down on the ice after a defensive-zone faceoff. He had featured in just six games for the Capitals this season before going under the knife to address injuries to his abdominal and adductor muscles.
After a career-best 66-point first campaign with the Capitals last year, Dubois started the 2025-26 season cold with zero points and averaging 15:32 of time on ice per game. He is currently traveling with the Caps as part of the team’s annual Mentors’ Trip, joined by his uncle Serge.
PLD’s father, Eric Dubois, was likely unavailable for the trip as he is currently serving as an assistant coach in Germany’s DEL with ERC Ingolstadt.