Dustin Brown is the captain of the Los Angeles Kings. The team who eliminated the Phoenix Coyotes from their magical run through the playoffs to the Western Conference Finals. Of course that’s no reason to hate him. The cheap shot on Michael Rozsival is why you hate him.
This has turned into a heated rivalry over night. Put the Red Wings on the back burner. Whenever a next season arrives, one man and one team will have a circled on the calendar. Dustin Brown and the Los Angeles Kings.
Who is more upset at this point? The Coyotes or the fans. Both but most likely Neither. The coaches know better to let things get out of hand and have focus lost at any point of a long season. The players will target Brown just because of who he is and what he tries to accomplish on the ice. His flops and borderline hits have given him a reputation. His attitude makes him a marked man.
When you think about it aren’t all captains targeted for hits over most? Shane Doan is a tough competitor. I would never even think the word dirty when thinking Doan. To this fan and writer he is the epitome of class. The hit on Rosie came during a series where the Coyotes were called for every little thing. Torres had just been suspended for a similar situation. He had targeted Hossa and all of a sudden a weird movement by the victim created a hit that was worse than it should of been. See Rozsival like Hossa made a mistake and it put them in jeopardy.
Hossa turned toward his own net after passing the puck heading toward the center red line on their way to the Coyotes end. It was an unexpected change of direction that had Raffi lifting and a violent collision ensued. Similar was the case when Rosie did not dump the puck and turn straight down his blue line in a unnatural move and he got collected. It’s not the play that is disputed. It was a bang bang play as the whistle was blowing. Sure it was a horrible outcome and no one wants to see someone get blown up like that. To a man it was not dirty it was just unfortunate.
What gets people upset is the attitude Brown takes as if he has no compassion for his fellow competitors. Doan and Brown are polar opposite in that regard. As far as being a captain, they are both as determined as anyone. It is a privilege and an honor to slap that C on your sweater. It is to be respected. Even Dustin Brown is deserving of respect.
Having said that, I hope every opportunity available he is checked, hit, dumped, slashed, and put on his butt as much as possible. That’s hockey.