Dustin Brown | U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2023

Having a lengthy and productive career in sports is quite an accomplishment. Being able to do it all with a single team has become a rarity, as trades and free agency usually take a player to another franchise.

But not Dustin Brown. No, the Ithaca, New York, native made himself into one of the NHL’s top leaders on the West Coast in the bright lights of Los Angeles, a place where he has been immortalized.

Brown retired from the Kings following the 2021-22 season, his 18th as a right wing in the NHL after being the 13th overall pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He tallied 712 points in 1,296 games, captained the Kings to their first Stanley Cup in 2012 and repeated the feat in 2014. Brown was also a two-time Olympian, winning a silver medal in 2010 with the U.S.

While Crosby and Matthews may someday have statues outside of the arenas in Pittsburgh and Toronto, Brown already has one outside of the Kings’ home in downtown LA, joining Wayne Gretzky and Luc Robitaille.

That’s how much his leadership meant to the Kings. Brown became the second American-born captain to win a Stanley Cup, following DerianHatcher in 1999 with the Dallas Stars. Following the 2013-14 season, Brown won the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

Brown was a consistent contributor offensively and had five straight 20-goal, 50-point seasons from 2007–08 to 2011–12. He was always ready for the big moment as well, as Brown led the NHL in goals and assists in the 2012 playoffs.

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