Dustin Brown is reportedly close to signing with Vityaz Chekhov of the KHL. GM Alexey Zhamnov reported the news and it was relayed by Genadi Boguslavski of Sovetsky Sport. Stay tuned for something official.

Dustin Brown became the second American-born captain to hoist the Stanley Cup. The Stars' Derian Hatcher was the the first, accomplished in 1999. For the playoff's first three rounds, Brown was also a frontrunner for the Conn Smythe, though his production cooled in the Final until he scored once and notched two assists in the Game 6 clincher. For much of the playoffs, the captain was hard to contain, as he scored eight times, put up 20 points and finished with a plus-16 rating -- marks that were the best in the postseason. "People in this city have been waiting 45 years for this," said Brown. "It's something I'll remember forever."

The Los Angeles Kings won Game 6 against the New Jersey Devils 6-1 on Monday night to hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time in the franchise's 45-year existence. The Kings ran roughshod over the first three teams they faced in the playoffs and looked like they were going to ease past the Devils when they were up 3-0 in the series, but New Jersey won two straight. The Kings need to thank Steve Bernier for his ill-advised boarding major (and game misconduct) midway through the first period that led to three of their goals on the power play and essentially put this game away 20 minutes in. Dustin Brown scored once and had three assists. Jeff Carter and Trevor Lewis each potted two goals, while Matt Greene had the final one. Los Angeles scored three times in the first, once in the second and two at the end of the third. Drew Doughty, Mike Richards and Dwight King each finished with two helpers.

The Kings have squandered back-to-back chances to win the Stanley Cup, but Dustin Brown doesn't think the pressure is building going into Game 6. "Is there pressure? Yeah, there's pressure," Brown said. "It's the Stanley Cup Finals. I don't think the pressure is any different than Games 4 or 5, or Game 1, to get off to a good start. There's going to be pressure in any game." The Los Angeles Kings have an opportunity to win the Cup at home on Monday. If the Devils win, then Game 7 will be played on Wednesday.

Dustin Brown was not on the ice at all during the last 3:56 minutes of Game 5 Saturday. Brown has struggled offensively during the Stanley Cup Final and one has to wonder if he is injured as he has only one point in five games in addition to not playing at the end of Saturday's game. We guess we will find out for sure once the Stanley Cup is over and all injuries are finally revealed.

The Los Angeles Kings have a 3-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup finals, but they're still looking to elevate their game. "I think it's been a long, long playoffs obviously," Dustin Brown said. "Emotionally and physically, you're going to be tired. It's a matter of finding the next gear. I think it's pretty much an even playing ground when you consider fatigue, because each team has gone through three series and are battling as hard as they can. It's really about just finding the next gear. The team that does normally wins." If the Kings can do that on Saturday, they should capture the Stanley Cup.

Dustin Brown has just one point in the first four games of the Stanley Cup finals. Brown has still been a physical presence, but he's found it difficult to generate anything offensively against the Devils. "It's different team in general [than Vancouver]," Brown said, referring to the Kings' first round opponent. "Jersey does a lot better job taking ice away. For me, personally, on my left side, they're taking a lot of the my ice away, which makes it more difficult to enter the zone. I feel I'm just as physical. I just don't feel like I have as much time with the puck." Brown and the Kings are just one win away from capturing the Stanley Cup.

Dustin Brown leads the NHL in hits and plus/minus in the postseason. Brown had a neutral plus/minus rating on Wednesday despite the fact that the Kings suffered a 3-1 loss. He also recorded five hits to bring his total up to 87 in 18 games. The next highest player on the Kings or Devils is Dainius Zubrus with 77 hits, so it's likely that Brown will finish the playoffs as the league leader in that category. Of course, Brown has done quite a bit offensively true, making him one of the most valuable players in the 2012 postseason.

Los Angeles' Dustin Brown or New Jersey's Zach Parise will become just the second U.S.-born captain in NHL history to be presented with the Stanley Cup. Derian Hatcher, who got to hoist the trophy first with the Dallas Stars in 1999, is the other player to earn the distinction. "I've known Zach pretty much from the time we were 15 or 16 years old," Brown said. "We played in numerous tournaments together. I'm sure we roomed together at times. He was one of those guys I met and got along with right away. It's a good thing overall for USA Hockey. I think American hockey is going in the right direction and having more players in the spotlight." Brown and Parise are both 27 years of age and they have been instrumental in their team's success during the playoffs.

Dustin Brown does not have a hearing scheduled with the NHL for his hit on Phoenix defenseman Michal Rozsival during overtime on Tuesday night. The Los Angeles captain didn't think the play warranted any discipline after the game because it was more of a full body collision than a knee-on-knee hit and apparently the league agrees. "Rozsival was cutting to the middle and I cut across and made contact," Brown explained. "Obviously, they thought it was a kneeing. It happened at high speed. I felt like I got him with my shoulder and my left side and his right side all made contact from toe to shoulder." The Coyotes had some choice words for Brown and the officiating following the contest, but they'll have to wait until next season to seek retribution. Brown leads all active playoff participants with 16 points in 14 games. He is also tied for first with a plus-13 rating and has been credited with 67 hits.