Trades involving the Capitals, Kings and Jets have worked out for all three teams, an NHL rarity

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rarely in the NHL does a significant trade work out for both teams involved. Even scarcer is a pair of high-profile moves made over back-to-back summers helping every team involved get better.

Saturday night crystallized that for the Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, who shuffled players around and are thriving as a result.

Winnipeg got a goal from Alex Iafallo, part of the return for sending Pierre-Luc Dubois to Los Angeles in June 2023. Dubois scored for Washington to continue his excellent change of scenery since the Kings dealt him to the Capitals this past June for goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who made 26 saves to help LA win on the road at Carolina and keep his strong season going.

"It’s great to see that," Iafallo told The Associated Press after his team's 5-4 overtime win at Washington. “That’s the name of the game. Obviously everything changes so fast or whatever it may be. You find your success and be happy for everybody who has it.”

Iafallo, Gabriel Vilardi and Rasmus Kupari — acquired from the Kings for Dubois — are all playing key roles for the Jets, who are atop the league standings and look every bit like a serious Stanley Cup contender.

Incredibly, Dubois after a disappointing season with LA is one of the reasons the Capitals are leading the Eastern Conference and also have eyes on a long playoff run. With 42 points in 52 games, he already has more production than he did all last season.

Still, Dubois said: "I think there’s another step. I think the beginning of the year I felt good. I just wasn’t getting any bounces. I think there’s still another step I can take. Obviously when you’re seen on the stat sheet it feels good, but at the end of the day even if you score and the team loses, it still stings.”

There was no sting for the Kings on Saturday night because Kuemper helped them beat the Hurricanes 4-2 to end a four-game losing streak. Kuemper is 11-4-3 since returning from injury in early December.

“Darcy’s been outstanding for us,” center Phillip Danault said. "He gives us a chance to win every single night. Some key saves at the right time. Yeah, I could speak about how good Darcy is the whole night. He’s definitely outstanding for us.”

Everything is going outstanding now for Winnipeg, which has won six in a row and the players are enjoying the ride.

“It’s been a blast," Iafallo said. “Obviously different roles a lot of the time but just embrace it and have fun. But I’ve been loving it, especially this year winning so much and having fun with the guys.”

AP freelance writer Nate Ryan in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

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Washington Capitals left wing Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) celebrates after his goal with defenseman Rasmus Sandin (38) and defenseman John Carlson (74) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Winnipeg Jets left wing Alex Iafallo (9) celebrates his goal with defenseman Neal Pionk (4) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) snares a shot by the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Washington Capitals left wing Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) tries to get the puck past Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea's military accused South Korea of flying drones across the border between the nations this week, warning Saturday that South Korea will face consequences for its “unpardonable hysteria.”

South Korea quickly denied the accusation. But the development is likely to further dim prospects for efforts by South Korea's liberal government to restore ties with North Korea.

North Korean forces used special electronic warfare assets on Sunday to bring down a South Korean drone flying over North Korea's border town. The drone was equipped with two cameras that filmed unspecified areas, the General Staff of the North's Korean People’s Army said in a statement carried by state media.

South Korea infiltrated another drone into North Korean airspace on Sept. 27 before it was forced to crash following electronic strikes by North Korea, the statement said, adding that authorities found the drone also contained video data on major objects in North Korea.

“We strongly denounce the hooligans’ serial outrageous encroachment upon our sovereignty and undisguised provocative acts against us,” the North Korean statement said. “The ROK military warmongers will be surely forced to pay a dear price for their unpardonable hysteria.”

The ROK is the abbreviated form of the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.

South Korea's Defense Ministry said it did not operate drones during the times specified by North Korea and doesn't even posses the types of drones that North Korea claimed were used.

Senior ministry official Kim Hong-Cheol said in a statement that authorities will investigate whether civilians flew the drones found in North Korea. He said South Korea has no intentions of provoking North Korea and will continue its efforts to build trust between the Koreas.

Since taking office in June, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has pushed hard to reopen talks with North Korea and reconcile the rivals. But North Korea has steadfastly rebuffed Lee's overtures.

Lee said Wednesday he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to serve as a mediator to ease animosities between the two Koreas during their recent summit, and Xi called for patience.

North Korea has shunned talks with South Korea and the United States since leader Kim Jong Un’s high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump fell apart in 2019 due to wrangling over U.S.-led sanctions. North Korea has since focused on building more powerful nuclear weapons and declared a hostile “two-state” system on the Korean Peninsula to terminate relations with South Korea.

Drone flights are a source of animosity between the two Koreas, with the rivals accusing each other of flying drones into their respective territories in recent years.

North Korea accused South Korea in October 2024 of flying drones over its capital, Pyongyang, to drop propaganda leaflets three times. South Korea’s military said it couldn’t confirm whether the North’s claim was true.

Tensions rose sharply at the time as North Korea threatened to respond with force, but neither side took any major action and tensions gradually subsided.

South Korea also has accused North Korea of occasionally flying drones over South Korea. In December 2022, South Korea announced it fired warning shots, scrambled fighter jets and flew surveillance drones over North Korea in response to what it called North Korea’s first drone flights across the border in five years.

North Korea's Kaepoong village is seen from Ganghwa, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Im Sun-suk/Yonhap via AP)

North Korea's Kaepoong village is seen from Ganghwa, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Im Sun-suk/Yonhap via AP)