Captain Brown?
Seems as though the people have spoken, with 80 percent of you, so far, choosing Dustin Brown as captain over Anze Kopitar in a head-to-head choice. To be honest, that's how I would vote as well, and I've heard strong informal indications that when captains are announced this week, it will be Brown with the ``C'' and Kopitar and Jarret Stoll wearing the ``A.'' Of course, that's not official until Terry Murray declares it so, but that's the informal word.
I think it's the right choice. That's certainly not a knock on Kopitar, who is an exceedingly hard worker, a good communicator and a strong teammates. Brown just fills all those roles slightly better. The one knock on Brown, in his early years, was the fact that he could be very timid in the locker room. It's something that Brown acknowledges and something he has worked hard to improve. He has made tremendous strides in that area. In his rookie year, I'd try to talk to him, and while he was always polite and pleasant, he rarely had anything to say. Conversations were rare. Now, he's a clear team leader and a magnet for the media. He's more mature and not afraid to speak his mind, and having the ``C'' on his jersey would only reinforce for him the importance of being a leader. It's a role he could hold for a very, very long time.
Regardless, Kopitar will have an important leadership role on the team, and I think it's also important for a more-veteran player to have a formal leadership role. I thought, going in, it might be Derek Armstrong, but Stoll has earned rave reviews for his attitude and locker-room presence.
It seems that Murray is only going with two regular alternate captains, which is a shame because I think Jack Johnson deserves a look. Of all the Kings, he has the most natural leadership ability, at least in terms of a forceful personality, but he's younger and it's only nature that he's in line behind guys such as Brown and Kopitar.
Anyway, it's an interesting decision...
The final preseason game is getting underway soon, so I'll try to keep tabs here...
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About the bloggers
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews.com.
Thanks Rich, for some great insight.
While I disagree with the choice of Stoll, who needs to prove himself to Kings fans and prove the Lubo trade wasn't the worst Lombardi move since Cloutier, I agree that Jack Johnson is too young yet to deserve that role. I would have gone Brown-Kopitar-Armstrong.
Dustin Brown is a great choice. Kopitar would be one of my choices for the A. Thanks for all of your hard work Rich.
Whoever winds up wearing the C and As, I think it's great that there are a number of guys to choose from. Army and JJ won't stop being leaders just because they don't have a patch.
FWIW-Johnson is older than Kopitar
Rich, that was one of the best editorial/stories you've written. Thank you for an awesome read!
You, and everyone else in the last thread have convinced me to stick to my convictions for Brown. I guess I am overly paranoid of Kopitar not resigning long term. Brown definately deserves it more and in all honesty I believe he will make the better captain.
I know exactly what you mean about Brown being timid initially. I remember his rookie year going to a player signing at staples. You would have thought he didn't speak english. I was shocked. I was excited to talk to an American born player, but guys like Lubo struggling through simple sentences made for better conversion.
Anyways, here's hoping Rich's predictions for captaincy come true, though I would like to see Army get an A...
clarification: JJ is too young in terms of age + nhl experience.
One question Rich: Why no mention of Frolov? Not even a mention as an alternate??? Longest King, oldest of the core, fantastic player, hard worker, great personality. Why not even a mention? Very disappointing.
Kopitar and Johnson started in the league the same year. Sure, Kopitar played some 60 or so more games, but that isn't much more experience.