Dustin Brown sees way for L.A. Kings to overcome departures
In other words, there’s the importance of a team’s leadership group behind the scenes, striking that delicate balance of communication with the coaching staff and management.
Despite diminishing contributions on the ice, his leadership skills were still valued.
Besides the potential of filling those holes on the ice with Milan Lucic, Nick Shore and Andy Andreoff, among others, captain Dustin Brown — the longest-tenured Kings’ player and public face of the organization — is expecting other support.
“You can look at it as guys leaving or you can look at it as an opportunity for guys who have been waiting in the wings to take the reins more,” Brown said.
Brown, meanwhile, senses the time is right for defenseman Drew Doughty to take that great leadership leap and expects Kopitar to be “a little more vocal now.”