The Los Angeles Kings have announced that the team will retire former captain Dustin Brown‘s No. 23 on Feb. 11, 2023.
The festivities will also include the unveiling of a statue outside Crypto.com Arena.
The Ithaca, N.Y., native retired at the end of the 2021-22 season. Drafted 13th overall in the 2003 NHL draft, Brown played his entire NHL career with the Kings and won two Stanley Cups.
“Having my number retired is something I never imagined and is a humbling honour,” said Brown in a statement. “I am incredibly proud that I played for the LA Kings my entire career. With my number going to the rafters, I am honoured to be amongst the King Greats, but it makes me think of the two banners already in the rafters, of which I am most proud. It took numerous people to raise those two banners; the same is true for this one. Thank you to all who have helped me achieve my dreams.”
Brown accumulated 712 points (325 goals, 387 assists) and 738 penalty minutes in 1,296 games over 18 NHL seasons. He is the only King to have played as many seasons with the organization.
Brown became the Kings’ youngest captain, at the time, at 23 years old and was the first American-born player to wear the ‘C’ for the organization.
“Since Dustin first joined our organization nearly 20 years ago, he has represented the LA Kings with incredible class and passion,” said Kings President Luc Robitaille in a statement. “In addition to enjoying an outstanding playing career and leading us to moments we had never experienced with two Stanley Cups, he has been a standout in the Southern California community and set the course for our franchise. This is indeed a very well-deserved honour and I look forward to an incredible celebration for Dustin, Nicole, and their family, while sharing his legacy with our fans at our home arena for what promises to be a special night.”
Brown was the recipient of the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2013-14 and was featured in the 2009 NHL All-Star Game.
Rogie Vachon (30), Marcel Dionne (16), Dave Taylor (18), Wayne Gretzky (99), Luc Robitaille (20), and Rob Blake (4) are the only other players to have numbers retired by the organization. Brown’s statue will stand alongside other statues honouring Gretzky, Robitaille, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Chick Hearn, Oscar De La Hoya, Elgin Baylor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal in Crypto.com Arena’s Star Plaza along Chick Hearn Court.