Brown, Parise share common bond as U.s.-born captains
NEWARK — Los Angeles Kings captain Dustin Brown says the scariest aspect of New Jersey Devils captain Zach Parise is that he has a fourth-line work ethic to go with his first-line skill.
“I think we both do a lot of things well,” Brown said. “I think he is a little more skilled than I am, and I think I have more of a physical impact than he does.”
The Americans began playing on U.S. national teams together in the 2002-03 world junior championships and were teammates on the 2010 silver medalwinning Olympic team.
This is the first time in NHL history that both finalists have U.S.-born captains.
One will join Derian Hatcher (1999, Dallas Stars) as the only Americans to serve as a captain of a Stanley Cup championship team.
“The significance is the depth of captains we now have, plus we have leaders on teams, guys who don’t wear the ‘C,’ but they wear an ‘A,’ or they are general leaders,” USA Hockey’s Jim Johannson said.
About one in five NHL players is an American, and there are six American captains.
The Devils didn’t have a captain when Peter DeBoer became coach last summer.
“It only took me a week being around him to see for me he exuded everything we needed out of that position,” DeBoer said.
He said he knew when he took the Devils job that Parise had a reputation as a pro’s pro.
“He walked the walk,” DeBoer said. “He was humble. He let his play do the talking for him.”
Brown has been Kings captain since 2008, but there was trade talk surrounding him. In the playoffs, he has been the Kings’ best all-around player.
“The playoffs have been something for him that he’s taken the next step,” Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. “Right now, he’s a playoff-type player.”
Brown, with two years left on his contract, could be Los Angeles’ captain for years to come. But Parise’s future is less certain. He will be an unrestricted free agent, and he could be the hottest scorer in the marketplace.
“Having the success here, knowing how (general manager Lou Lamoriello) has built the team. . . . I hope that is enough to trigger enough to get him to stay in New Jersey,” Devils goalie Martin Brodeur said. “But at the end of the day, he’s a big boy and will make the decision that is right by him and his wife.”