Sheng Peng: Put Dustin Brown Back on Top Line?

JLewis had posts that talked about this exact thing, pointing out exactly why DB should NEVER play with AK. My eye-test opinion is that DB never embraced his role on that top line: defer to AK and get to the net. Instead he fancies himself a puck handler, which everyone who has ever seen 30 seconds of DB shift knows he is not. TL and DK know their roles and know them well. They look to get the puck to the most talented handler on their line and then they get to the net. But DB never does that, for whatever reason. IMO he played/fit well with the likes of Stoll because Stoll didn't need the puck to do his thing, he was crash and bang and won faceoffs. The same can be said with DB's third line mates, they don't need the puck to be successful, so he can make all his dangling moves on the wing and the other two can head to back check of forecheck depending if DB just simply turns the puck over in the zone or shoots it high off the glass sending both teams the other way in a hurry...

JLewis had posts that talked about this exact thing, pointing out exactly why DB should NEVER play with AK. My eye-test opinion is that DB never embraced his role on that top line: defer to AK and get to the net. Instead he fancies himself a puck handler, which everyone who has ever seen 30 seconds of DB shift knows he is not. TL and DK know their roles and know them well. They look to get the puck to the most talented handler on their line and then they get to the net. But DB never does that, for whatever reason. IMO he played/fit well with the likes of Stoll because Stoll didn't need the puck to do his thing, he was crash and bang and won faceoffs. The same can be said with DB's third line mates, they don't need the puck to be successful, so he can make all his dangling moves on the wing and the other two can head to back check of forecheck depending if DB just simply turns the puck over in the zone or shoots it high off the glass sending both teams the other way in a hurry...
- Stu17

While I do agree. However this year Brown has really played alot different. Hes also more physical than hes been in the past years it seems. He doesnt seem to be retaining the puck as often as he used to and dangleing himself out of a puck. I myself have been very impressed with Brown this year. Would I like more out of him. Sure. But hes been very good this year so far.

Put DB (D-Bag) on the first line, and make him captain again too! The rest of the West will be truly pleased.

Put DB (D-Bag) on the first line, and make him captain again too! The rest of the West will be truly pleased.
- BMWChiFan

any idea if his avg shot distance has come down this season thus far? perhaps not enough datapoints to be meaningful yet, but his chemistry with dowd seems to have given him a lift. arguably a better combo than when he was with kopi, but doesn't help if sutter scratches dowd for andreoff.

Sheng Peng: Put Dustin Back on Top Line?
- Sheng Peng

DUSTIN PENNER!?

Fantastic Idea!

I'm in total agreement with Stu17. Brown makes the worst plays and takes some of the worst shots that always lead to a counterattack by the opposition which results in a glorious scoring opportunity.

Where are the big hits? Where is the north/south game of which we all speak? Brown is a -12 and it's not hard to see why. The dude should be on the bottom six playing a simplifed game ala Kyle Clifford. Matter of fact, he should just retire because these last few years have been painful to watch. We free up money and down have to watch his bumbling and stumbling any more.

Good bye Dustin Brown, thanks for the memories. Maybe he can be a coach or something or work in the front offiice, I don't know but really he has to go.

Give you a 3rd for Purcell.

Give you a 3rd for Purcell.
- Wildschwein

Some folks around this board would take a terd for Purcell...

If my knowledge serves me correctly. He started the season playing with Dowd and that is where he was successful .

Some more Kopi post to post for you.

Please win in regulation.

Some more Kopi post to post for you.
- poisondhearts37

Does count as one or two??

Does count as one or two??
- Sheng Peng

Def 2

JLewis had posts that talked about this exact thing, pointing out exactly why DB should NEVER play with AK. My eye-test opinion is that DB never embraced his role on that top line: defer to AK and get to the net. Instead he fancies himself a puck handler, which everyone who has ever seen 30 seconds of DB shift knows he is not. TL and DK know their roles and know them well. They look to get the puck to the most talented handler on their line and then they get to the net.
- Stu17

From 2007-12, Brown scored 1.67 5v5 points/game with Kopitar (1.68 overall). They were fine together before Brown's game and production declined.

Brown was not a star puckhandler by any means, but he was competent in his day. And it's not like Kopitar didn't benefit from playing off the puck once in a while. Having one guy which teams can key on (like Kopitar if he's playing with King & Lewis) presents problems unto themselves.

These days though, I'll grant that Brown doesn't need to handle the puck as much as he used to. It's hard to say if he's adjusted his game.

However this year Brown has really played alot different.
- poisondhearts37

He seems to be about the same but with more power play time to pump his stats up. Also playing more with a creative, skilled player with Dowd as opposed to Shore and Lewis last year helps.

any idea if his avg shot distance has come down this season thus far?
- hiway39

Actually the farthest 5v5 since 2007-08 so far this year (32.89), closest was 2009-10 (28.0)

DUSTIN PENNER!?

Fantastic Idea!
- Byfuglien Ate Me

Actually, prefer your namesake, Byfuglien!

The dude should be on the bottom six playing a simplifed game ala Kyle Clifford.
- verwustung

Isn't that what he's doing now? From his perspective, there's no reason for him to retire, he's still an adequate player.

Give you a 3rd for Purcell.
- Wildschwein

Considering Oilers could've had him for free a couple weeks ago, I think the Kings take that and run.

He started the season playing with Dowd and that is where he was successful .
- wrister

Successful on the power play, up and down at 5v5.

Some more Kopi post to post for you.
- poisondhearts37

If you can believe it, NHL.com's play-by-play sheet didn't count Kopitar's double-post as a post. They counted it as a save for Howard. Now that's some bias.

If you can believe it, NHL.com's play-by-play sheet didn't count Kopitar's double-post as a post. They counted it as a save for Howard. Now that's some bias.
- Sheng Peng

Doesn't surprise me at all. Its about boosting Howards stats for trade value I'm sure.

Please win in regulation.
- Feds91Stammer

Wings fans want that 1st overall. We are happy to oblige.

Does count as one or two??
- Sheng Peng

It counts for one thing and one thing only: no goal.

I talk all kinds of poop about Brown here and on Insider and unbelievably he comes and and plays a pretty good game. You could tell from the very beginning something was different. He was making the simple play and going in on the forecheck or taking a shot that was accurate and results in a rebound. Maybe that closed door meeting they had resulted in knocking some sense into him. Probably Carter, sick of Brown trying to be Sergei Federov, knocked some sense into him. Good on Jeff. The guy wants to win some more Cups. Go get em Jeff Carter. You da man!

Doesn't surprise me at all. Its about boosting Howards stats for trade value I'm sure.
- poisondhearts37

So it must've been credited as a SOG too... cray

I talk all kinds of poop about Brown here and on Insider and unbelievably he comes and and plays a pretty good game. You could tell from the very beginning something was different. He was making the simple play and going in on the forecheck or taking a shot that was accurate and results in a rebound. M
- verwustung

he made a great feed to dowd on that goal. can't deny they play pretty well in the offensive zone together.

So it must've been credited as a SOG too... cray
- Stu17

Looks like Howard touches it? In that case, that would be counted as a save officially...the NHL doesn't make a distinction between save leading to post/crossbar, even though they should.

Kopitar hits both posts: https://t.co/qLpS3OczuZ#LAKings #LAKvsDET

— Eric Burger (@Kingsgifs) December 16, 2016

he made a great feed to dowd on that goal. can't deny they play pretty well in the offensive zone together.
- hiway39

but does that assist nullify the terrible turnovers or mishandles leading to turnovers? It's tough for me. While that was very nice set up, I pay more attention to a PP where he was on the right circle and someone fed a perfect pass to put on net and instead he mishandled it and it went out of the zone. I think GThorne even said something about it went under his blade, but it actually was a bad touch and it went over... There were other shift killing turnovers too... IMO those outweigh the one "good" pass.

Early 2nd period Toffoli breakaway saved by Howard, credited to Carter