Ben Shelley: Reviewing the season: Dustin Brown

The Kings aren't going to be trading Brown, especially if he is still playing quality hockey. I don't care if he's not worth his contract, or if they can get an asset for him, or whether the team is trying to get younger...he's not being moved or bought out, end of story.

The Kings management came out after the retrospective last season and said that the biggest problems that the Kings had that led to their decisive decline were entitlement and a lack of leadership. Brown is exactly the type of player they would like to mold their young players after. They already made the mistake of letting quality leadership guys like Justin Williams and Willie Mitchell leave via free agency. They're not going to make the same mistake with Brown. The ONLY way I can see him leaving is if Seattle decides they need a quality leadership guy in the expansion draft. Not much the Kings can do about that, as they're not about to use a protection slot on a 36-year old forward.

My guess is that Brown will retire in a Kings sweater, his number will be retired, and he'll get a statue outside of Staples Center.

The Kings aren't going to be trading Brown, especially if he is still playing quality hockey. I don't care if he's not worth his contract, or if they can get an asset for him, or whether the team is trying to get younger...he's not being moved or bought out, end of story.

The Kings management came out after the retrospective last season and said that the biggest problems that the Kings had that led to their decisive decline were entitlement and a lack of leadership. Brown is exactly the type of player they would like to mold their young players after. They already made the mistake of letting quality leadership guys like Justin Williams and Willie Mitchell leave via free agency. They're not going to make the same mistake with Brown. The ONLY way I can see him leaving is if Seattle decides they need a quality leadership guy in the expansion draft. Not much the Kings can do about that, as they're not about to use a protection slot on a 36-year old forward.

My guess is that Brown will retire in a Kings sweater, his number will be retired, and he'll get a statue outside of Staples Center.
- tkecanuck341

Thanks for reading!

I don't know that I agree with that. At the time he could be traded as a rental, he'll be 37 years old and especially with a younger group and the likes of Kopitar and Doughty still remaining, I don't know that they'd avoid dealing him.

Thanks for reading!

I don't know that I agree with that. At the time he could be traded as a rental, he'll be 37 years old and especially with a younger group and the likes of Kopitar and Doughty still remaining, I don't know that they'd avoid dealing him.
- Ben Shelley

The only way he's getting traded is if he asks for a trade to get one last shot at competing for a Cup before his contract expires. If he wants to stay, the team will let him stay.

His value to the team is worth significantly more than whatever modest return they could get for him as a rental. Especially at a time when the Kings are grooming the next generation of players for the Kings (as well as perhaps the next team captain in Tobias Bjornfot), the Kings won't want to get rid of him. Kopitar has never really been an outspoken captain, and Doughty isn't exactly a model for leadership and discipline. Brown has always been the (official and then unofficial) leader of this team.

I honestly won't be surprised if (and wouldn't be adverse to) the Kings re-singing Brown to an extension once his current contract expires. He's not going to get $5M+ again, but he could certainly sign a one-year deal worth $2M.

The only way he's getting traded is if he asks for a trade to get one last shot at competing for a Cup before his contract expires. If he wants to stay, the team will let him stay.

His value to the team is worth significantly more than whatever modest return they could get for him as a rental. Especially at a time when the Kings are grooming the next generation of players for the Kings (as well as perhaps the next team captain in Tobias Bjornfot), the Kings won't want to get rid of him. Kopitar has never really been an outspoken captain, and Doughty isn't exactly a model for leadership and discipline. Brown has always been the (official and then unofficial) leader of this team.

I honestly won't be surprised if (and wouldn't be adverse to) the Kings re-singing Brown to an extension once his current contract expires. He's not going to get $5M+ again, but he could certainly sign a one-year deal worth $2M.

Agreed. Trading Brown to a contender would surely necessitate some bad money coming back. In Brown you have a known commodity whose a leader and a good pro, you might not get that back in a bad money cap dump. The return probably wouldn't be worth it. If there's something to be learned from teams like Buffalo, you still need guys who are NHL players on the roster during a rebuild. He probably doesn't get traded unless he can't play anymore, and it's a contract only trade situation for a team to hit the floor or play LTIR games.

Amadio... Brown... who's next, Carter? We're onto your methodology, Ben.

Amadio... Brown... who's next, Carter? We're onto your methodology, Ben.
- Osprey

BINGO