Dustin Brown has taken his place as one of many best gamers in Los Angeles Kings historical past. Prior to Saturday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Kings retired Brown’s No. 23 and unveiled a statue in his likeness outdoors Crypto.com Arena.
Brown introduced his retirement following the Kings’ 2021-22 season, and he ended his profession with a pair of Stanley Cup rings and the franchise file for video games performed with 1,296. Brown now turns into the seventh participant in Kings historical past to have his quantity retired and the fourth member of the group to get a statue, becoming a member of Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille and broadcaster Bob Miller.
Before Brown’s quantity was raised to the rafters, Brown stepped as much as the rostrum to share a couple of recollections and thank people who supported him alongside the way in which. One of the primary issues Brown did when he started his speech was thank his mother and father, who had been by his aspect for this particular night time.
Even although he was a first-round choose, Brown rapidly realized he did not know a lot about taking part in on the NHL stage. For that matter, he did not know a lot about parking on the NHL stage.
Brown and Drew Doughty weren’t solely main items of two Stanley Cup groups, however they had been additionally nice pals. Brown took the time to thank Doughty for his comedic contributions off the ice as a lot as his play on it.
As a part of the ceremony, the Kings performed a tribute video for Brown during which a lot of his former teammates, in addition to former head coach Darryl Sutter, spoke concerning the influence he made on the franchise.
Once Brown was completed talking, it was time to boost No. 23 into the Crypto.com Arena rafters perpetually. Brown, along with his spouse and youngsters by his aspect, bought to witness his title and quantity take their place beside NHL legends.
The Kings drafted Brown No. 13 general within the 2003 NHL Draft, and he grew to become the staff’s thirteenth captain in 2008. Just a couple of years later, in 2012, Brown led the Kings to the primary Stanley Cup in franchise historical past.
Two years after that, Brown captained the Kings to one more Stanley Cup in 2014.
Brown skilled the last word excessive for an NHL participant, however he additionally displayed perseverance within the face of adversity. In 2016, after a couple of down years, Brown was stripped of his captaincy and changed by Anze Kopitar.
Undeterred, Brown bounced again within the 2017-18 season and turned in a profession yr with 61 factors. From there, Brown remained a key participant for the Kings by the ultimate season of his NHL profession.
For Brown, having his quantity retired and getting a statue are nice honors, however he’s most happy with what the 2 Stanley Cup groups had been in a position to accomplish.
“Having my quantity retired is one thing I by no means imagined and is a humbling honor,” Brown informed the official Kings web site. “I’m extremely proud that I performed for the LA Kings my whole profession. With my quantity going to the rafters, I’m honored to be amongst the King Greats, but it surely makes me consider the 2 banners already within the rafters, of which I’m most proud.
“It took quite a few folks to boost these two banners; the identical is true for this one. Thank you to all who’ve helped me obtain my goals.”
Brown retired at or close to the highest of each class within the Kings’ franchise file books. Brown ranks sixth in objectives scored (325), eighth in assists (387) and seventh in factors (712).
