After 18 seasons in the NHL, Los Angeles Kings two-time Stanley Cup champion Dustin Brown sets to retire at the end of the 2021-22 season. Brown announced his retirement Thursday ahead of the Kings’ regular-season finale. In the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, LA will take on the Edmonton Oilers.
About Brown
His 18 years as a forward for the Kings have seen Brown appear in 1,295 regular-season games, a franchise record. Back in 2003, he was a first-round draft pick. When he became a captain in 2008, he brought the Kings together to become Stanley Cup champions in 2012 and 2014. Brown ended up being a captain for eight seasons. His career totals are 325 goals and 387 assists. He has made nine goals this season and 19 assists in 63 games, averaging a -3.
Words From Brown
“I can walk away knowing I did my best,” Brown said Friday during an emotional news conference with his family at the Kings’ training complex. “The Kings are in a better spot than when I arrived.” Many question why Brown decided to retire but he answered, “I don’t think it’s really one thing. Still feeling pretty good physically. Mentally, there’s just days that are really hard. There’s factors outside the rink that have weighed on me. There comes a time when it’s time to move on. … I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, and I can walk away with my head held high.”
Brown says he “is grateful for the opportunity to play his entire career in one uniform.” He doesn’t know what will come after the playoffs, and he’s more focused on spending more time with family.
Dustin Brown will forever remain a legend because of the impact he brought upon the ice. Number 23 may never be worn by another Kings player again. Maybe he’ll even be in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
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