Los Angeles Kings captain and Stanley Cup winner Dustin Brown is known for one thing: delivering heaps of crushing, momentum-changing hits.  His many detractors will also point out that he is well known for agitating and drawing loads of penalties, earning him the ignominious nickname “Fall-Down Brown.”  Although he is an elite hitter and a force on the ice, do his other stats make him worthy of your fantasy team?

The Ithaca, New York native was drafted by Los Angeles in 2003 in the first round.  Brown has spent his entire career with the Kings and as the team improved and matured, so did he.  Named captain before the start of the 2008-2009 season, he led the team by example and helped define the Kings trademark physical play and shut-down defense.  

Brown has been in the top three league leaders in hits since he was promoted to team captain.  What distinguishes him from the other bruisers in this category is his productivity.  During each one of the four seasons Brown topped the charts in hits he also scored goals and registered assists, recording at least 50 points per season.

As a member of one of the best top-sixes in the NHL, Brown has seen a marked improvement in his plus/minus over the past few seasons.  He also sees plenty of time on special teams and isn’t afraid to shoot the puck.

Brown is in the prime of his career and surrounded by staggering talent like Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty.  Stanley Cup hangover or not, he is one of the most well-rounded players in the league and will post stats any fantasy owner would glad be to have.

Since Brown is coming off of a championship season he, like most players on the Kings, will be over-valued.  It is very likely he will be claimed in the second or third round.  If your league counts hits as a category, he should be your second pick.  If not, he should be drafted in the fourth round or later if he is still available.