Jason Lewis: Dustin Brown: Top-Six Winger or Top-Six Beneficiary?

It is like that really bad kid in basketball who cannot shoot but refuses to pass to others.

That is exactly what it is like. Brown is NOT a top 6 and probably not even a top 9. He is a black hole where the puck goes but never comes back (unless by coming back you mean off the glass behind the goalie as his shot is high and wide time after time usually clearing itself out of the zone). Why the man can't tweak his game is beyond me. It's akin to Shaq not caring enough to actually practice to become a better free-throw shooter. If Brown would just defer to Kopi and get to the net, maybe my view of him would be different. When Richards was acquired I just got the sense that he hated playing with Brown for the same reason: a pass to Brown never came back and instead was just a sign to turn and start getting ready to play D. I would trade DB in a second to the Sabres.

Holy crap I had no clue he was 30 already. Maybe it's his baby face

With all these albatross contracts across the league, hopefully it makes gm's think twice before they sign guys like Vinny lecav, dustin brown, dave Clarkson, Alex semin, Lupul, Mike Richards, Dave bolland, etc to the types of contracts they did. It would have a league wide effect. Drive price down on players, or at least give gms an excuse to have players sign more cap friendly deals and then really earn their big contract.

Good article Jason.

I can't help but feeling I was reading a piece on the NFL, where players play with good quarterbacks, good offensive lines, or good systems and get huge paydays to play somewhere else, eventually to fail because of the change of scenery.

However, players in the NFL rarely reach the end of those said contracts.

Good read.

The value proposition GM's are facing is inherent in the FA system.

Guys tend to sign their big money long-term deals at the beginning of their UFA years, just as they are coming up on their declining years.

Best value for teams will be found in players' RFA years.

As the benefits of guys signed on cap circumventing deals (Hossa, Richards, Carter, Chara, Luongo etc) start to wear off, I think we'll be seeing shift in successful teams compositions; even more heavily weighted to teams with guys on contracts in their RFA years.

Good article Jason.

I can't help but feeling I was reading a piece on the NFL, where players play with good quarterbacks, good offensive lines, or good systems and get huge paydays to play somewhere else, eventually to fail because of the change of scenery.

However, players in the NFL rarely reach the end of those said contracts.
- flyducksfly

The NFL is crazy with that, no question. So many moving parts to what makes a player good it can be hard to nail down a truly good contract.

Good read.

The value proposition GM's are facing is inherent in the FA system.

Guys tend to sign their big money long-term deals at the beginning of their UFA years, just as they are coming up on their declining years.

Best value for teams will be found in players' RFA years.

As the benefits of guys signed on cap circumventing deals (Hossa, Richards, Carter, Chara, Luongo etc) start to wear off, I think we'll be seeing shift in successful teams compositions; even more heavily weighted to teams with guys on contracts in their RFA years.
- Tumbleweed

Thank you both for reading!

Good article Jason. I think it's time to test the trade market for Brown, we need the money. As soon as he signed that long contract and had a couple kids, his hitting and aggressive play went out the window. If he's not scoring, he's got to be smashing into people. He's just not the same player. The Kings have some big contract decisions coming up and I think it's time to make Kopitar our captain.

bottom 9 player making 6 million, yap thats over paid!!!!!!!!!!!!

The NFL is crazy with that, no question. So many moving parts to what makes a player good it can be hard to nail down a truly good contract.



Thank you both for reading!
- Jason_Lewis

I'm just glad nonis isn't around to help you guys put out of your $11.5M, 43 point brown/richards tire fire.

So I say we make buffalo an offer for their 2nd pick and make it one they can't refuse

Kings give buffalo Brown, Richards, Williams, Mcnab, Mcbain, Voynov and Andreof

Buffulao essentially gives us Jack Eichle

Let Stoll go to free agency, bring up Forbort, Miller, Weal, Shore and Oneil.


problem solved, sign toffoli Sekera, jones and kopitar

So I say we make buffalo an offer for their 2nd pick and make it one they can't refuse

Kings give buffalo Brown, Richards, Williams, Mcnab, Mcbain, Voynov and Andreof

Buffulao essentially gives us Jack Eichle

Let Stoll go to free agency, bring up Forbort, Miller, Weal, Shore and Oneil.


problem solved, sign toffoli , jones and kopitar
- MikeOxbyg

Isn't Williams a free agent now? And why the hell would Buff throw away a franchise center for a useless Richards and overpaid Brown?

Isn't Williams a free agent now? And why the hell would Buff throw away a franchise center for a useless Richards and overpaid Brown?
- arichardson22

poop offer.

Leafs can beat that.

Horton, bozak, reimer, brewer, booth, phanef for eichel and a 3rd

An unfortunate but completely necessary acknowledgement of Brown's downward trajectory. When you pay a player based on the nostalgia that came with bringing your city it's first 2 championships and not based on overall potential/future, you effectively handcuff yourself for years to come. Brown is an awesome 3rd line grinder at this stage of his career. potentially 2nd liner when he plays with a purpose. it's never been for a lack of effort on his part, I'll give him that. but if these last couple years are any indication of where Brown is headed as a player, we're in big trouble with him. this could easily become Mike Richards Part Deux. Hopefully I'm proven to be completely off base with this prediction, but the stats for a 30 year old Brown in decline seem awfully similar when comparing with Richards.

Isn't Williams a free agent now? And why the hell would Buff throw away a franchise center for a useless Richards and overpaid Brown?
- arichardson22

July 1st is free agency isn't it?

poop offer.

Leafs can beat that.

Horton, bozak, reimer, brewer, booth, phanef for eichel and a 3rd
- Tumbleweed

and then we would add prospects and beat you out :D

and then we would add prospects and beat you out :D
- MikeOxbyg

touche

So I say we make buffalo an offer for their 2nd pick and make it one they can't refuse

Kings give buffalo Brown, Richards, Williams, Mcnab, Mcbain, Voynov and Andreof

Buffulao essentially gives us Jack Eichle

Let Stoll go to free agency, bring up Forbort, Miller, Weal, Shore and Oneil.


problem solved, sign toffoli Sekera, jones and kopitar
- MikeOxbyg

This brings me to my next point kids. Don't do drugs.

This brings me to my next point kids. Don't do drugs.
- Mr_Underwood

or do lots of drugs and make trades

Good read, Jason. I think it's fair to say Brown's contract sucks right now. As far as the player goes, I like what he does on the ice. Next year will determine if he stays captain or a King for that matter. On a side note, it still feels weird not seeing the Kings in the playoffs. I was really getting used to them always making it in. It could be worse. I could be a Coyotes fan.

I've made the point many times the DB contract is the one that will haunt the Kings going forward - that is the contract TT should have - Dean let his loyalty get in the way of his decision making - DB is and always will be a great king... however he needed to be paid @ 2 mil a yr not 6 - no one will take him except maybe a struggling to the floor team - He is a 3rd line grinder at best - nothing wrong with that .... but not at that scratch , another issue is he doesn't fight... not that the sissified new nhl has room for that but you know what I mean .. he is not a intimidator or much of a physical hammer anymore - think tim jackman - matt martin - cal clutterbuck - good luck with this contract - 6 mil for 25 pts OUCH -

I hope Brownie is at home watching Tomas Holmstrom videos. If he dedicates 15/16 to getting to the net he can salvage his career. You aren't a speedy 5'10, 170 lbs winger, Dustin.

I've made the point many times the DB contract is the one that will haunt the Kings going forward - that is the contract TT should have - Dean let his loyalty get in the way of his decision making - DB is and always will be a great king... however he needed to be paid @ 2 mil a yr not 6 - no one will take him except maybe a struggling to the floor team - He is a 3rd line grinder at best - nothing wrong with that .... but not at that scratch , another issue is he doesn't fight... not that the sissified new nhl has room for that but you know what I mean .. he is not a intimidator or much of a physical hammer anymore - think tim jackman - matt martin - cal clutterbuck - good luck with this contract - 6 mil for 25 pts OUCH -
- dozerD10

All true.

I've said this before & would love a response from you guys about this especially with the subject matter of the blog.

In Australia our national sport is rugby league, a very physical & fast sport. Our clubs - we have 16 playing at the elite level with 1 in Melbourne, 1 in NZ, 11 in NSW, 1 in Canberra & 3 in Queensland. The contracts for players are unlimited in age, experience but are capped via a salary cap for the teams same as the NHL.

Now most contracts are for a period of between 2 years & 4. Some for the better players can be for longer 5 & 6 years but are rare. The age of players ranges from 17 - 35 usually. The thought of giving a player a contract over 4 years is ludicrous considering the nature of the sport & injuries as well as simply players not playing well. Clubs won't risk having contracts for players that are not capable of playing at their pay rate. That results in quite a turnover in players although extensions can be written into the contracts.

I find it amazing that these long contracts for massive amounts are a standard practice in the NHL - no wonder there are so many contracts being called out to be bought out.

Why not reduce the term of the contracts you guys sign? Write in conditions for extensions for both player & team but limit the length??

What are your thoughts?

@Aussie

The extensions in contracts aren't allowed ad party of the standard player contact, also when the player is negotiating in his ufa years then one of the factors becomes term. A guy in ufa will go with the team who gives him term AND money. If you desperately need a player then you overpay like nonuts did for Clarkson... Nonuts said at the time Clarkson will be good for year one and two and he'll worry about the other years later...