Dustin Brown Extension: Kings Solidify Stanley Cup Core by Locking Up Captain

Dustin Brown is the heart and soul of the Los Angeles Kings.

He embodies the tough, physical style of play that the team displayed in its first ever Stanley Cup championship two years ago when Brown tallied 20 points in 20 games in a performance that culminated with him lifting hockey's Holy Grail as team captain.

This is the type of moment that the Kings expect to experience again in the near future, which is why the team re-signed Brown on Thursday to an eight-year deal worth $47 million, per Chris Johnston of Sportsnet:



This signing is another example of the brilliant job that general manager Dean Lombardi has done to lock up the team's championship core long-term.

"It certainly is a hallmark of the stability we're trying to create here," Lombardi said in an interview with KingsVision.

"You add him to the core of the other top players that we now have signed to long-term deals, but having your captain now under the umbrella is certainly a good feeling."

The process of developing stability began prior to the Kings' championship season when Lombardi signed No. 1 defenseman Drew Doughty to an eight-year deal worth $56 million in the fall of 2011. Since then, a few of the team's best players have been given long-term contracts, per Capgeek.

Player Position Age Contract Term Importance Jonathan Quick Goalie 27 10 years Arguably the best goalie in the NHL and winner of the 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy. Drew Doughty Defense 23 Eight years One of the league's best young defenseman with an amazing two-way skill set. Slava Voynov Defense 23 Six years A rising star and one of the best young offensive defensemen in the NHL. In addition to these contracts, star forwards Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Anze Kopitar are also signed for at least three more seasons. Veteran defenseman Robyn Regehr and rookie sensation Jake Muzzin have signed multi-year deals in the last few month...

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