TSN: Brown will no longer be Captain

[Bandit]

What is the point?

Is this because they want to go in a new leadership direction?
Did Brown do something wrong off the ice?
Or is this Kings management trying to shame Brown into accepting a trade?

Brown's play has clearly fallen off, but what does that have to do with being the captain of the team?

Brown was an integral part of two championship teams and has been with the franchise for 13 years, captain for almost nine, and this is how he gets treated?

And yes, in the past three years two peoples job performances have fallen off more than anyone else, one of them is the team captain and the other one is the general manager. If one has to move on, maybe the other should as well (or atleast uptairs). Is there a team that has been as poorly managed the last two calendar years as the Kings?

Vancouver Canucks, not close. No present, no future, and no past to fall back on.

Say what you will, after all Brown did this ****ing sucks to see him go out like this. I will never forget what he's done for us, regardless of where his game is at now. I could understand a trade or a buyout, but this? This team is a mess.

 

[Herby]

Vancouver Canucks, not close. No present, no future, and no past to fall back on.

Say what you will, after all Brown did this ****ing sucks to see him go out like this. I will never forget what he's done for us, regardless of where his game is at now. I could understand a trade or a buyout, but this? This team is a mess.

Honestly, I think it's pretty close, but you are probably right, Benning is out of his league at the NHL level.

But still, everything DL has touched since June 2014 has turned to crap.

 

[damacles1156]

Don't agree with it, but it's not my call, so what ever. Feel bad for Brown, Dustin Brown has done everything the Kings have asked him to do. Brown has made a darn good effort to up his game.

It is, what it is though. Disappointed in Lombardi.

 

[kingsfan28]

I don't think the comparisons are similar.

Richards had substance abuse problems going back to his days in Philly, he was a party animal who's habits finally caught up to him, and how was he rewarded by the GM, he was brought back despite all signs pointing to his career being over. Same thing with Stoll, he was rewarded witha ridiculous three year extension in 2012 coming off the worst season of his career, guess on ice performance didn't matter in this cases.

Brown is/was everything you would want out of a captain, he is one of the good guys in the entire NHL.

I'm sorry, but this just reeks of desperation and is yet another black eye on this organization, which there have been many since June 2014. Would have no problem with a trade, but stripping a two time cup winning captain and longest tenured player of his C is pathetic.

I kind of agree. What's the whole point? Is Lombardi and Sutter trying to get his game going again by doing this or are these more head games? If the plan all along is to try and trade him for cap space, why take the C away? Once again we have more drama around this team than needed.

 

[damacles1156]

It seems like Once Mitchell/Williams/Stoll left, this team lost it's swagger. Two seasons of failing to show up in big games.

Maybe that's what Lombardi is looking at, and pointing the finger at Brown.

 

[Herby]

I think the Kings have lost a lot of games the past couple of seasons because they trotted out guys like Brayden McNabb, Rob Scuderi, Christian Ehrhoff, Mike Richards, and Nick Shore.

And they lost Mitchell and Voynov and have never been able to come close to replacing either of them.

 

[kingsfan28]

Don't agree with it, but it's not my call, so what ever. Feel bad for Brown, Dustin Brown has done everything the Kings have asked him to do. Brown has made a darn good effort to up his game.

It is, what it is though. Disappointed in Lombardi.

So am I. Brown has been here during the dark days of the Kings, long before Lombardi put his mark on the team, now Dean decides his "Kings tattoo" mantra is dated and trying to remove it like a tramp stamp. He wants to reinvent the team and I guess he feels it could start with a new captain.

 

[damacles1156]

I think the Kings have lost a lot of games the past couple of seasons because they trotted out guys like Brayden McNabb, Rob Scuderi, Christian Ehrhoff, Mike Richards, and Nick Shore.

And they lost Mitchell and Voynov and have never been able to come close to replacing either of them.

I agree, and blame Dean Lombardi 100% for that. Lombardi made some solid moves 2012-2014, he gets the praise for that, you bet. But I sure blame him for the 2015-2016 rosters that got outplayed.

 

[Herby]

Brown wasn't a "culture changer" like Stoll, Richards and Clifford

 

[Trolfoli]

I don't get what everyone is so upset about. Brown will probably get a good portion of top6 ice time next year as well.

 

[kingsfan28]

I don't get what everyone is so upset about. Brown will probably get a good portion of top6 ice time next year as well.

So will Dwight King.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Sounds like Brown is pretty pissed off. Friedman said that too (unless he was just quoting mayor).

I wouldn't be surprised if Brown demanded a trade which is going to make Dean and the Kings look even worse.

 

[Herby]

Sounds like Brown is pretty pissed off. Friedman said that too (unless he was just quoting mayor).

I wouldn't be surprised if Brown demanded a trade which is going to make Dean and the Kings look even worse.

I think that is exactly what DL was hoping for.

If the Kings disappoint again this season he is going to be on the hot seat, not just from on-ice performance but because of the soap opera that has happened off the ice with Voynov, Stoll, Richards and Brown.

He better find a way to stop the bleeding.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I don't think the comparisons are similar.

Richards had substance abuse problems going back to his days in Philly, he was a party animal who's habits finally caught up to him, and how was he rewarded by the GM, he was brought back despite all signs pointing to his career being over. Same thing with Stoll, he was rewarded witha ridiculous three year extension in 2012 coming off the worst season of his career, guess on ice performance didn't matter in this cases.

Brown is/was everything you would want out of a captain, he is one of the good guys in the entire NHL.

Does on ice performance matter with Brown, or is it all about how good of a guy he is? Brown's had 3 years to get his game going again and he hasn't done it. Why do you have this higher standard for Richards and Stoll? If Richards could still play, would him being a party animal make a lick of difference? The Kings did go to the 3rd round and won another Cup in the first two years of Stoll's extension, so it hardly crippled the team.

I'm sorry, but this just reeks of desperation and is yet another black eye on this organization, which there have been many since June 2014. Would have no problem with a trade, but stripping a two time cup winning captain and longest tenured player of his C is pathetic.

But is there a trade out there for you to have no problem with? We would all love his contract to go away. We've all wanted that for years now. What team is lining up to take Brown because of how good of a guy he is though?

I don't mean to make it sound like I'm thrilled with this turn of events with Brown, but how many people, and for how long of a time, have said please do something with Brown? Put him on the 4th line for good. Send him to the AHL. Trade him, no matter what the cost, or how much the Kings lose on the deal. I doubt there was an option that wasn't thought of. Well, this is something. Is playing Brown 10 minutes a night on the 4th line with the C better optics?

Are the Kings desperate? Is Lombardi desperate? Yeah, I would think so. 1 playoff win in 2 years? A team able to lose a must win game against the Oilers? We want the players to play desperate, which they haven't done enough of the last few years. We've criticized Lombardi for his loyalty ********. He's too loyal, too emotional. Make a tough choice. Well, here's a tough choice where he didn't let his feelings for the past get in the way.

But, Brown's a good guy. Like that alone means anything in this world. That's the mindset we didn't want Lombardi to have anymore. It's about what you're giving me now, not 4 years ago.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Sounds like Brown is pretty pissed off. Friedman said that too (unless he was just quoting mayor).

I wouldn't be surprised if Brown demanded a trade which is going to make Dean and the Kings look even worse.

I'm sure if Brown demands a trade, that's what will make teams line up for that contract. Dustin Brown is available everyone!



When Brown is going 30 games without a goal, or even a point, please get rid of him. Now, Brown should probably demand a trade because of how he's been treated. Wouldn't that be good? We've all wanted his contract gone for how long?

All of a sudden it's about feelings. We fans haven't been able to go 10 consecutive games in the last 3 years without complaining about how disappointing Brown has played. We've wanted him to get out in any way possible, because of how much he drags down his linemates, because he can't stay on his skates, twirls around in the offensive zone, and can't handle the puck, but now it's about his feelings.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

how many captains play 3rd line minutes on a regular basis?


also, one would wonder if stripping Brown the C wasn't one of Sutter's demands in order to stay with the team

remember Sutter had said he wanted to wait until free agency before he decides to sign or not

i'm guessing Dean made a few promises to Sutter which is why Sutter signed so soon

 

[Trolfoli]

I think that is exactly what DL was hoping for.

If the Kings disappoint again this season he is going to be on the hot seat, not just from on-ice performance but because of the soap opera that has happened off the ice with Voynov, Stoll, Richards and Brown.

He better find a way to stop the bleeding.

If? VL retired. Lucic/Versteeg/Lewis/Schenn may not be back. Scuderi will be back. Forbort/Gravel maybe get their first full year. 3C is probably going to be Shore/Dowd. Brown could play in the top 6, especially depending on how the wing depth works out this Summer. Adding another top 4D for assets, seems pointless if you're going to lose them in the expansion.

There is a very real possibility the team isn't as good next year as it was this year.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

I'm sure if Brown demands a trade, that's what will make teams line up for that contract. Dustin Brown is available everyone!



When Brown is going 30 games without a goal, or even a point, please get rid of him. Now, Brown should probably demand a trade because of how he's been treated. Wouldn't that be good? We've all wanted his contract gone for how long?

All of a sudden it's about feelings. We fans haven't been able to go 10 consecutive games in the last 3 years without complaining about how disappointing Brown has played. We've wanted him to get out in any way possible, because of how much he drags down his linemates, because he can't stay on his skates, twirls around in the offensive zone, and can't handle the puck, but now it's about his feelings.

Of course we want Brown and his contract gone but if that's the plan then do it. Don't embarrass the guy and make the organization look bad.

And if he demands a trade it might make things worse. They might be forced to retain 50%.

 

[Johnny Utah]

I am on vacation and just saw this and pretty shocked but expected.

Lombardi gave out too many big contracts after both Cup runs and barely any of them have panned out. This contract is considered one of the worst in the league.

Two straight seasons of not making playoffs and getting knocked out, time for change.

By the way, I went thru all pages of this thread, what did Freidman say?

 

[TruKingFan]

Say what you will, after all Brown did this ****ing sucks to see him go out like this. I will never forget what he's done for us, regardless of where his game is at now. I could understand a trade or a buyout, but this? This team is a mess.

Brown will forever live on in the folklore that is the Kings' Stanley Cups - 2012 more than 2014. And yet it is also factual that Brown's no longer is an effective player since the monster contract given to him by Lombardi. It is now even more of a complicated situation that Sutter has decided he'd rather move forward without Brownie at the very least, as the captain of the team. Brown should make it as easy as possible for Lombardi to move him if it comes to that, in order to salvage his career somewhere else. But wherever he goes, I hope he understands it will not be as a captain anyway. So there's hope in my mind that after the initial angst, Brown may just be happy being in the background as a good LA King soldier.

Even if I agree that the team is a mess right now, there's plenty of time before the puck drops on the 2016-2017 season. This is now Sutter's and Lombardi's last chance at redemption - although the two Cups will always soften their failures and their legacy. And I believe this is why they have to be bold in how to remake the team - physically and mentally. Perhaps this is a good start.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Just listened to the Hoven interview. He called it awhile ago. I wrote some posts in the off season tbread about how Brown doesn't fit in especially with young guys coming up...it was predictable. What teams have that much money on the 3rd line and isn't producing?

Also, sad to hear about Lucic if that is true.

Where does that leave the Kings now.

??-Kopitar-Gaborik
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
King-Shore-??
Clifford-Dowd-Nolan
Andreoff

Makes me think Lombardi is going to take a run at Yandle and that re signing Lewis could happen for the right price.

Nice to hear Lombardi is now "hardened" by all his loyalty to MR, Brown, Stoll and Voynov. This is business.

 

[damacles1156]

Just listened to the Hoven interview. He called it awhile ago. I wrote some posts in the off season tbread about how Brown doesn't fit in especially with young guys coming up...it was predictable. What teams have that much money on the 3rd line and isn't producing?

Also, sad to hear about Lucic if that is true.

Where does that leave the Kings now.

??-Kopitar-Gaborik
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
King-Shore-??
Clifford-Dowd-Nolan
Andreoff

Makes me think Lombardi is going to take a run at Yandle and that re signing Lewis could happen for the right price.

Nice to hear Lombardi is now "hardened" by all his loyalty to MR, Brown, Stoll and Voynov. This is business.

The roster will have the same problems as the last two seasons, unless Lombardi unloads a Muzzin/Toffoli in a hockey trade, that lands not only a roster player, but a prospect ready to step in right this moment. So in other words, the Kings are screwed, and better hope someone from the AHL pans out (Gravel/Forbort/Shore/Kempe)

UFA is not going to solve the Kings problems.

Be shocked if Brown asked for a trade, he has a wife and Four kids to think about (FIRST), they are rooted in the area, and he has kids starting school.

 

[Johnny Utah]

If the Kings can dump Brown and Lewis and Lucic walk there will be some opportunities for Kempe, Mersch and Dowd.

Lombardi should also consider moving King or Clifford. That would give Andreoff and Mersch a chance at the LW on the 3rd and 4th line.

 

[kingscups]

We all know Brown hasn't been the player lately that he's been for us in the past, or the player we though we were getting when he signed his extension. That said this just leaves a bad taste in your mouth, as others have said Brown has captained this team to two cups, and been a great role model off the ice.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Two back to back 11 goal seasons and he makes over 5 million and in a salary cap era we are supposed to keep him on the roster just for what he did 3 and 5 years ago?