Subban gets his money (RW77)

PK Subban is, to me, an interesting case... and not the only interesting case on the Canadiens.

Yesterday, PK Subban signed an 8 year $72 million contract with Montreal.  For the math fans out there, that's a cap hit of $9 million a year.

Is this a good or a bad deal?  Fans and analysts alike are already batting around this question.  Ok, so maybe it is because we are now entering the boring part of the offseason and there's nothing really to talk about now that Sid the kid's surgery is postponed or cancelled.

Back a few years, Duncan Keith signed a mammoth extension with the Blackhawks worth $5.5 million a year and people questioned it and it turned out ok.  Others, not so much.  But in my opinion, the worthiness of this contract isn't questionable if you look at Subban's offensive numbers and even defensive capabilities.  Based on those facts alone, he's pretty solid.  Goon and I agree, he's most certainly the best player on Montreal.

However, he has a reputation most often scorned by those who were subjected to the Vigneault-led Vancouver Canucks of years past:  Embellishment, diving, showboating, etc.  Subban is the finest diver in all of the NHL (my opinion anyways) and he excelled at it last year in the playoffs.  Sadly, it's not the "haters" that were the only ones noticing it.... EVERYONE was.

There is talk that Subban will be named Captain or wear an 'A' on his sweater this season.  I, for one, hope this is just talk.  He's not yet matured enough to be an on ice leader.  Maybe he's great in the locker room.  His interviews seem good enough as well.  So, sure, he has the potential, but he needs to clean up his game first.

The problem lies in the necessity to do such a thing... you see, it isn't present.  More and more Captains of teams employ shady tactics on the ice.  The Kings' Dustin Brown is a good example.  Historically, there have been "cheap" Captains or superstars.  Heck, Gordie Howe was a cheap as they come back in his heyday.

However, I'd like to think that the Captain is a leader by example and exemplifies what his team is all about on and off the ice by such an example.  PK Subban doesn't lead in that way.  But that being said, the NHL isn't going to change its trends because of my opinion.  Oh well.

So, is Subban worth a big payday?  Yes.  Is it a bit high?  I think so.  I like Duncan Keith's numbers.  Something like an 8 year $44 million contract would have been perfect for Subban.  Load it with incentives if you want, that's fine.

So, he's a bit overpaid... but unlike the other "interesting" case, I think he'll back up his pay grade.

The next Habs player headed for a big payday apparently is Carey Price.  And I truly believe that last year he had a career year pre-injury.  He'll still be good, but he's not an elite goaltender.  The Habs will pay for a guy they almost let walk twice.  Soon after, they'll wish they had let him walk.

Just my prediction.

(Video) Drew Doughty and Alec Martinez score 2:06 apart to take the lead - game 6

The Kings would take the lead back from the Chicago Blackhawks as Kings Defensemen Drew Doughty and Alec Martinez score 2:06 apart. That lead would evaporate quickly as the Blackhawks would get two goals in just under five minutes to take the lead.

05:32 LAK Drew Doughty (4) Wrist shot - ASST: Dustin Brown (6), Mike Richards (6) 2 - 2 Tie
07:38 LAK PPG - Alec Martinez (3) Wrist shot - ASST: Drew Doughty (12) 3 - 2 LAK

Mr Elbow Dustin Brown says that Joe Thornton is a dirty player

So, L.A. Kings forward Dustin Brown, AKA Mr. Elbow is calling Sharks forward Joe Thornton a dirty player. Sure he got run last night and check with a dirty leg check, but Karma is a bitch right? This is comedy gold, this is coming from a player that has several questionable plays a week. All you have to do is go to Google Dustin Brown and dirty hit. How many times has he hit someone with one of his patented, lead with his elbow hits? Many... So, when I hear him make this statement I have to laugh.

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Dustin Brown humor

A little humor at Mr. Elbow's expense. I mean Dustin Brown's expense.

Kings vs. Canucks: Ryan Kesler vs. Dustin Brown

It's about time someone stood up to Dustin Brown. Fellow USA teammate Ryan Kesler pounds Dustin Brown in the second period of tonight's game between the L.A. Kings and Vancouver Canucks.

Great message from Kesler. Much leadership there. Two USA teammates fighting about the CDN goalie
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) January 14, 2014

Sunday Evening Dustin Brown Humor

#Gatorade to make new water bottle specifically for Dustin Brown. pic.twitter.com/xB5r0YaDCe
— Wild About Minnesota (@WildAboutMinny) August 5, 2013

I couldn't resist, it was a funny picture. At least he's not elbowing someone.

Related articles

• Steve Rosenbloom on the Boychuk hit (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Hockey News: Dustin Brown Extension; The ESPY'S (thehockeywriters.com)

(Video) Chicago Blackhawks Road To The Stanley Cup Final 2013 and Kings were banged up

Standing in the way of the Chicago Blackhawks are the Boston Bruins. Check out some of the injuries of the L.A. Kings. Sounds like they were a pretty banged up hockey team.

Dustin Brown says he tore his PCL in his knee in Game 6 last round. Played through it
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) June 9, 2013

Justin Williams says he played with a slight shoulder separation ever since Stuart crunched him last round. Doesn't think surgery needed
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) June 9, 2013

Drew Doughty had been playing on a bad ankle, since the San Jose series. More on that later.
— lisa dillman (@reallisa) June 9, 2013

Questionable Dustin Brown hits Western Conference Finals (Keith and Toews)

Does anyone see a pattern here at all? These are two hits from the Western Conference Finals. I know that the Chicago Blackhawks were not happy with Brown's hit on Jonathan Toews.  Lucky for Duncan Keith that he fell and Brown was not able to make contact with him.

I am being serious. Dustin Brown elbows Jason Pominville, this was right after his hit on Antoine Roussel. During the playoffs against the St. Louis Blues we had Dustin Brown's knee on knee and attempted elbow on Jaden Schwartz. Everyone of these hits have been since April. Also, watch Brown's elbow on all of these hits. This is my question, how has this guy only been suspended one time (2 games) by the NHL?

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• Dustin Brown's knee's Jaden Schwartz (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Dustin Brown knees Jaden Schwartz (getrealhockey.com)

Dustin Brown knees Jaden Schwartz

s/t to Kukla Korner... So, L.A. Kings forward Dustin Brown was suspended two games a week and a half ago for elbowing the  Minnesota Wild forward Jason Pominville, probably ending his season and now we see Brown doing this. Last night, Brown was assessed a two minute minor at the 16:58 mark of the first period for tripping Blues forward Jaden Schwartz, but you can see this could have been a lot worse.

So, I am interested in knowing what the explanation for this one is? To me, it would appear that Brown didn't learn his lesson from last week. We are told that he's not a dirty player and that he's only been suspended once by the NHL. I guess, I don't think he's a dirty player either, but the fact remains that he's leading with his elbow.

I am wondering why more people more upset with this hit?  We have a guy that was hurt by what appears to be a legal hit, the guy that hit him is going to have a hearing today and the hit in question is receiving a ton of chatter. If Brown connects with that elbow on Jaden Schwartz, he probably has  yet another hearing. This would be his second in a two week period.  Had Brown been facing another hearing, he would've been probably been facing his  second  suspension in less than two weeks. Thoughts on this one. Edit: Gryba was given a two game suspension by the NHL for his hit on Eller.

Dustin Brown hit on Antoine Roussel

I found this little news tidbit on Michael Russo’s blog, obviously, we don’t see every hit or very news story, but it appears that Dustin Brown came very close to being suspended by the National Hockey Leagues Department of Player Safety earlier in the week for this questionable hit on Dallas Stars forward Antoine Roussel.

via Russo’s Rants -- Brown, who amazingly has never been suspended, does this time and time again and somehow gets away with it. In my opinion, he should have gotten suspended for what I thought was a very dirty elbow on Dallas’ Antoine Roussel two nights ago.

Brown, "Pominville ran into his elbow"

I am not a Dustin Brown hater by any stretch of the imagination, he's a good American players, but when you make a mistake you own up to and you move on. These comments that he made about his elbow on Jason Pominville are laughable, if not insulting.

Helene Elliott and Lisa Dillman, Los Angeles Times – Obviously we were disappointed in the decision, quite honest," Sutter told The Times. "Because it was exactly what Brownie says is exactly what happened. There was no intention, or leading. When you’re playing your wrong side, you protect the puck on that side of the ice. That’s what you do, you keep two hands on your stick.

"His elbow was up. Pominville ran into his elbow. Brownie wasn’t intentionally looking for somebody or looking for the players’ head. But the other side of it, it’s elbow-head contact.”

Does Dustin Brown expect us to believe that? Seriously? It's not very hard to see what your intent was, that was a chicken wing elbow, Brown meant to make contact with the head of his opponent.

Moving forward, I am glad that Brendan Shanahan and the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety had the stones to suspend Brown for this hit. I expect any player to be suspended for these kind of hits, because these are the types of hits, that the NHL is trying to eliminate from the game of hockey. Regardless of who is doing them.

Kings Brown suspended 2 games for hit on Jason Pominville

@bush1124 The NHL has no choice, they have to suspend him for this hit.
— Eric J. Burton (@goon48) April 24, 2013

First off, I was right, the NHL had no choice, they had to suspend Dustin Brown for his hit on Jason Pominville. In my opinion, the hit was a text book violation of the NHL's Rule 48. Obviously, we can debate that if you want. Also, this suspension doesn't make Brown a dirty player, but he does play with an edge and he does play on the edge. It was only a matter of time before he was suspended by the NHL.

Michael Russo, Russo Rants --- Los Angeles Kings captain Dustin Brown has been suspended the final two games of the Kings regular season, the Los Angeles Times' Lisa Dillman reported. The suspension stems from Brown's elbow to the face of Wild winger Jason Pominville in the second period last night.

Brown, who had played in 314 consecutive games, will be well-rested for the beginning of the playoffs next week. The first of those games comes tonight against Detroit, which is probably not a good thing for the Wild, which is being chased by the 9th-place Red Wings (three points back with three games left).

"I had the puck on my stick, he’s coming to hit me and I’m just bracing myself," Brown said when I asked him about the elbow last night.

The Wild didn't practice today, but official word thus far is Pominville is day to day with an upper body injury. GM Chuck Fletcher said it was too early to know yet if the Wild needs to recall a forward. If Pominville is sidelined, the Wild has no extra on the roster right now unless Mike Rupp is ready to return Friday from a knee injury. Otherwise, the Wild will have to look to the Houston farm.

BLOG: Dustin Brown suspended two games for elbow to Jason Pominville's face bit.ly/12iCZZw
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) April 24, 2013

This removes any doubt; Brown's dirty elbow on Pominville

Still shot of Dustin Brown's elbow that injured Jason Pominville #mnwild #lakings twitter.com/Russostrib/sta…
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) April 24, 2013

s/t to Michael Russo... In case anyone is confused, this was a text book hit to the head and a violation of rule 48. Jason Pominville's head is targeted by Dustin Brown.

48.1 Illegal Check to the Head – A hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted. However, in determining whether such a hit should have been permitted, the circumstances of the hit, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was avoidable, can be considered.

Dustin Brown elbows Jason Pominville

Check out this dirty elbow by the Kings forward Dustin Brown on Minnesota Wild forward Jason Pominville, there was no call on the play and he didn't return to the game after the hit. This is unacceptable and it should be a 2-3 game suspension from the NHL, but I can tell you right now, that Department of Players Safety, led by Brendan Shanahan will not give Brown the suspension he deserves, because we are approaching the Stanley Cup playoffs. I would be very shocked if he is given the suspension that he deserves.

Elbow to Pominville's head by Brown right in front of the ref...No call...That is unreal
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) April 24, 2013

If Dustin Brown is playing against the #redwings tomorrow, I'd be shocked -- Which is actually not good for the #mnwild #lakings
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) April 24, 2013

Dustin Brown Drops the F-Bomb

You never know what's going to come out of someone's mouth at the moment of extreme excitement. Dustin Brown you earned it and it was funny to see that Pierre McQuire didn't even blink and continued on with his interview.

Brown exclaimed, "You never know, that's why we F'N play."

Parise's and the Devils tough night

Here is the New Jersey Devils beat writer’s perspective on Zach Parise’s game one of the Stanley Cup Finals – Parise like the rest of the Devils looked like they were a little flat and maybe they were holding their sticks a little tight as well.

Mike Vorkunov, The Star-Ledger --- There was Zach Parise sprawling around the Kings net, desperate for any chance to finally make his mark on the opening game of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Devils’ captain had been quiet to that point, outplayed by Dustin Brown – his counterpart. Brown hadn’t scored but at least he threw his body around, setting the tone for a rough and rumbling Game 1. All Parise had done to that point was two shots on goal, one of which had accidentally slid off of his stick and to the goal.

But there he was, his opportunity waiting, as the puck stayed in front of Jonathan Quick. And all Parise could muster was to stick his glove out, from the outside of the net, and knock the puck in over the goal line. For a moment the Prudential Center erupted.

One thing that was evident last night was that the Devils didn’t bury their offensive opportunities when they had a chance.  Devils forward David Clarkson had two grade “A” scoring opportunities early in the game from the slot, only to shoot the puck over the Kings net.

Dustin Brown picture after hit on Michal Rozsival

I found this picture on my Twitter feed, this might not sit well with Phoenix Coyotes fans.

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• Dustin Brown Doesn't Deserve Suspension for Controversial Hit on Michal Rozsival (Video)

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Dustin Brown hit on Michal Rozsival

I think this is the next hit that will probably get a look from the NHL Department of Player Safety. This hit has also generated a lot of discussion on twitter at the end of the game.

I also expect, L.A. Kings forward Dustin Brown will get a call from the Senior Vice President of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan. Whether that hit deserves a suspension is another thing.

I do believe that the NHL has to review this hit, even though there was no penalty called on the play. I think that  Michal Rozsival who had been diving and flailing around on the ice minutes before when he was tapped by a Kings players stick, probably led to there being no call on the play. If you cry wolf enough times who is going to believe you when you really get hurt, right?

If you look at second angle of the hit, it looks worse than the first clip that you saw at game speed. I also think that Jess Myers has a point with his tweet below.

Just for the record I would not want to be in Brendan Shanahan's shoes, I don't think it's an admirable position, not after this post season.

One person pinged me this to me on twitter -  he doubts that Shanahan has the stones to suspend the Kings Captain for game 1. I guess we will find out - does Shanahan have the stones - he has proven already that he has the balls to suspended two superstars players in  Claude Giroux and Nicklas Backstrom during the earlier rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. These actions leads me to believe that he might have the stones to do so. I wouldn't want to be in Brown's shoes right now.

Either way I really don't care, do you think that this hit deserves a suspension, fine or nothing at all. Personally, I just hope the Devils and Rangers series can fill the void until next Wednesday when the Stanley Cup Finals start.

Former Phoenix Coyotes tough guy seems to think that Dustin Brown will be suspended for his hit on Michal Rozsival and this is what he tweeted tonight.

Coyotes' Hanzal suspended one game

The National Hockey League has acted swiftly and suspended Phoenix Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal for boarding Kings forward Dustin Brown during the third period of last nights game. For his efforts Hanzal will miss Thursday night's game in Los Angeles, California between the Kings and the Coyotes.

NEW YORK -- Phoenix Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal has been suspended for one game for boarding Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown during Game 2 of the teams’ Western Conference Final playoff series Tuesday in Phoenix, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 11:01 of the third period. Hanzal was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for boarding.

As with any suspension there are going to be fans that aren't happy with the suspension or think the suspension should be longer and isn't tough enough. I actually think Brown is lucky he wasn't hurt during the hit.

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Mike Smith does his best Ron Hextall impersonation

You know the announcers are right, this isn't new to the NHL and Ron Hextall would be impressed with Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith  and his chop of the Kings forward Dustin Brown.

I think when a goalie does this type of a bush leagues move it opens him up to reprisals. While I don't condone this move by Smith - sometimes this tactic works because it sends a message to other forwards - in essence Smith is telling the Kings that the Phoenix goal crease is not a place to be fooling around and you might want to watch yourself while you're around the crease area.

Penalties assessed: Smith was given a two minute minor for slashing and Dustin Brown was given a two minute minor for diving. Personally, I think the diving penalty that was assessed to Brown was a horrible call.

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• Brown takes a beating in Game 2

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