The luster and bright lights of Los Angeles have quickly dimmed for Kings forward Dustin Brown.
It's no secret, Brown's production has dropped immensely, and his annual cap hit of $5.875 million through 2022 has become a burden on the Kings' books.
After five consecutive seasons of more than 50 points, Brown has fallen short of the 30-point mark every year since 2013.
A steady decline, tied with the emergence of superstar Anze Kopitar, led Los Angeles to strip Brown of his captaincy, but, despite being aware of how harsh his reality has become, it hurt the 31-year-old to learn the team he captained to two Stanley Cups is taking the "C" from his chest.
Brown said the decision was made by management, and it was a "tough pill to swallow," according to Yahoo's Josh Cooper.
Either way, Brown is intent on improving.
Brown: "Whether i have a C on my chest or not, I'm going to put pressure on myself to be better."
If Wednesday proved anything, it's that NHL teams are always looking for defensemen.
With the likes of P.K. Subban, Shea Weber, and Adam Larsson all dealt in under an hour, it's clear teams are seeking upgrades to their back ends.
If teams are unable to swing a trade, free agency is the next best bet. This year's crop of defensemen may not be particularly strong, but clubs looking to fill out roster spots could find a diamond in the rough.
Here are the top 10 defensemen who will become unrestricted free agents July 1:
Brian Campbell
Despite approaching his 40s, Campbell continues to be a solid and reliable two-way pivot.
Campbell made $7,142,875 last season, so his next contract should be significantly lower. If he isn't brought back by the Florida Panthers, he could be a hot commodity for a club with a young defense corps looking for a reliable leader.
Jason Demers
Despite dressing in just 62 contests last season, Demers still managed a career-high seven goals.
The D-man led the Dallas Stars' defense with three power play goals and averaged just under 21 minutes of ice time.
He's not afraid to block shots and throw his body around, making him one of the best all-around defenseman available July 1. Don't be surprised if the Oilers take a shot at inking the 28-year-old.
Dan Hamhuis
At 33 years of age, it's evident Hamhuis isn't the D-man he once was.
His production has dipped, hitting a career-low last season with just three goals and 13 points in 58 games. However, he can still eat up minutes - averaging 21:25 last season - and is strong on the opposite side of the puck as his 72 blocks and 64 hits suggest.
With the likelihood of his next contract being his last, he could prove to be a solid veteran presence on a young team at a decent price.
Coming off a one-year, $3.9-million deal, Schultz contributed eight points in 18 games down the stretch and another four in the playoffs, which may have changed people's perspective of him.
Schultz saw time on the power play and, above all, proved that, in the right environment, he's less of a defensive liability as he was in Edmonton. Schultz certainly has value.
Kris Russell
Being picked up at the trade deadline by the Dallas Stars did little to make the club a contender, but Russell remains a solid option for clubs looking for a two-way D-man.
He contributed four goals and 19 points in 62 games, but his presence is most felt on the opposite side of the puck. Russell remains among the league's best shot blockers, finishing second in the category with 210, despite missing 20 games.
Dan Boyle
While Boyle admitted to contemplating retirement last season, the thoughts didn't appear to hamper his productivity.
The 39-year-old led Rangers defensemen with 10 goals, his second highest total in the last six seasons.
Boyle's next contract is likely to be his last, but he could be a solid addition to a bottom pairing.
Roman Polak
Polak may have had his skeptics in the playoffs, but he remains a reliable depth option for clubs looking to fill out their roster.
He contributed one goal and 16 points in the regular season, while finishing third in the NHL with 303 hits and blocking 146 shots.
He can be a bully to play against and, whether the stat holds merit or not, Polak managed to be a plus-8 on the last-place Toronto Maple Leafs before his trade to the San Jose Sharks.
Mike Weber
Weber is your prototypical third-pairing defenseman, and though he might not bring value to the score sheet, he brings size, grit, and truculence - all things Brian Burke loves.
He managed just one goal and four assists in 45 games split between the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals, but had more than two hits per game and 61 blocks.
Ben Lovejoy
Lovejoy might be among the best bargains to be had July 1.
While the Stanley Cup-winner might not be flashy or put up huge numbers, he's a steady blue-line force. He chipped in four goals and 10 points in 66 regular-season games and another six in 24 postseason contests.
He finished third on the Penguins in both hits and blocks while eating up 18:52 of ice time a night. And it should be noted he was paid just $1.2 million to do so.
Luke Schenn
It's crazy to think that, despite having eight NHL seasons under his belt and stints with three NHL clubs, Schenn is still just 26 years old.
While he might not be the same defenseman that was drafted fifth overall in 2008, he remains a punishing presence, amassing 234 hits and 106 blocks in 72 games last season split between the Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers.
If Schenn can rediscover his game he could be the steal of free agency.
The Boston Bruins have locked down pending restricted free-agent defenseman Torey Krug to a four-year contract worth $21 million ($5.25M AAV), the team announced Thursday.
Retaining Krug was a priority for Bruins general manager Don Sweeney this offseason, as he's one of if not the most important piece on Boston's blue line.
Krug, 25, scored only four goals, but still produced a career-high 44 points in 81 games last season, while logging over 21 minutes of ice time.
With over $24 million in cap space and Krug now retained, the Bruins are widely expected to be buyers this offseason.
"You want to make the best decision at the end of the day," he said in a conference call Thursday. "This was the best decision for myself and my family. For me, it was following your heart and being loyal to the organization that has made me the player and person I am today.
"I understood there could have been some money left out there," he added, "but that’s not what it’s all about."
Remaining loyal to the team that selected him first overall in 2008 played a part, and so did the very real possibility of winning a Stanley Cup as part of a formidable group of talent assembled by general manager Steve Yzerman.
#tblightning Stamkos: "This team is on the verge of hopefully competing for Stanley Cups for years to come."
The Lightning made it to the Cup Final in 2015 and pushed this year's champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, to seven games in the Eastern Conference finals. As team captain, Stamkos seems intent on seeing things through to the ultimate goal.
"I’m the leader of this team and I believe in the direction that we’re going," he said. "We’ve seen what this team is capable of."
Stamkos: "If we want to stay to together, there's going to be sacrifices for both sides. I believe the core we have understands that."
Finally, Stamkos admitted to some sleepless nights when considering the possibility of moving on, particularly in relation to returning to his hometown of Toronto. In the end, as he said, the decision to stay in Tampa was for the best.
Stamkos being inundated with questions about Toronto on this conference call. Getting a view into the solar system he chose not to orbit.
Lucic reportedly met face-to-face with the Dallas Stars, led by owner Tom Gaglardi, his agent, Gerry Johannson told NEWS 1130 Sports.
The discussion took place in Lucic's hometown of Vancouver, and Johannson also said it will be his final face-to-face meeting with July 1 approaching.
The bruising winger disputed a report that indicated he agreed to a deal with the Oilers, but Lucic is garnering plenty of attention from around the league as one of the most sought-after free agents.
Lucic, 28, carried a cap hit of $6 million in the final season of his contract, played out with the Los Angeles Kings.
The Stars have plenty of cap flexibility, but are also in the market for a new starting goaltender.
The defenseman, who's served as captain and face of the franchise for years, was dealt Wednesday to the Montreal Canadiens for P.K. Subban, and the decision came only after Poile conducted numerous meeting with his staff since the NHL Draft, he told Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.
"(Weber) grew up here. I call him a foundation piece. He's probably had the most influence and impact on our franchise of any player, Poile said. "He was our captain. It's one thing to trade a player, but somebody that's been with you 12-13 years, you don't stay that long without having an impact on the franchise.
"This was not a normal trade. From ownership to coaches to all of us in hockey ops, this was not an easy decision. It was a hard one."
On the flip side, however, was the opportunity to add one of the most exciting players in the NHL to an already electric roster.
"Hey, I'm a general manager, but I'm a fan, too. We're in the entertainment business. We've got some exciting players," Poile said.
"I love our goalie and how acrobatic he is, I love Roman Josi rushing the puck or Ryan Ellis rushing the puck, I like the swagger of James Neal, the goal-scoring ability of Filip Forsberg, I like the potential of Ryan Johansen, and now you can add in P.K. Subban - arguably one of the most energetic and most dynamic players in the National Hockey League."
Seemingly always on the verge of making noise in the Western Conference, Poile has added both Johansen and Subban in the past seven months, giving his team as good a chance as ever of becoming legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
P.K. Subban - the face of the NHL's pinnacle franchise - was dealt to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday for reasons unknown, seemingly buried in the depths of the Montreal Canadiens' front office.
Subban was a fan favorite. He brought booming slapshots, frequent pirouettes, and thrilling escapades with the puck on his tape, followed up by must-see celebrations. All combined with world-class production, it made him one of the most captivating figures in the sport, and fittingly, Habs fans were upset to see him go.
All told, here are five unforgettable moments from Subban's time in Montreal. Hopefully, Habs fans, it can make the grieving process a little easier.
5. - Massive hit on Brad Marchand
Two of the epicenters of the modern Habs-Bruins rivalry, Subban and Marchand, met rather violently in this instance in 2010.
With Marchand streaking up ice, Subban stepped up and delivered a textbook open-ice hit - an underrated facet of P.K.'s game - on the Bruins' pest, much to the delight of the onlooking Canadiens fans.
4. - Incredible individual effort versus Colorado
After exploding out of the penalty box, Subban took matters into his own hands for a remarkable goal versus the Avalanche in 2014.
Provided with an inexplicable amount of time and space, Subban displayed his scoring touch with a series of quick moves in dispatching a hapless Calvin Pickard.
3. - OT winner versus Boston
If anyone's happy to see Subban leave Montreal, it's Bruins fans.
Subban often put on a show against the Canadiens' biggest rival, and didn't shy away from the spotlight in the biggest moments.
In Game 1 of the second round in the 2014 postseason, Subban silenced TD Garden with his patented laser slapshot, his second goal of the game.
2. - Capturing the Norris Trophy
No defenseman was better than Subban in 2013.
In the lockout-shortened campaign, Subban scored 11 goals and 27 assists in 42 games, becoming the first Canadiens rearguard to win the award since Chris Chelios in 1989.
1. - Breakway goal versus Bruins
Two games after his overtime winner, Subban proved to be the X-factor against Boston once more.
Again escaping the penalty box, Subban was sprung on a breakaway and made no mistake in beating Tuukka Rask, sending the Bell Centre into an absolute frenzy.
As expected, Subban followed up the goal with a Herculean fist-pump at center ice, a lasting image in what was an other-worldly playoff performance.
Honorable mention: Donating $10 million to local children's hospital
Subban's reputation goes much further than his on-ice contributions.
On top of being a perennial All-Star, Subban's philanthropic legacy is deeply rooted in the Montreal community.
In September 2015, Subban made a $10 million donation over seven years to Montreal Children's Hospital - the largest financial commitment from a sports figure in Canadian history.
Carle, 31, falls victim to Tampa Bay's pressing cap issue, but the decision could prove to be valuable for the Lightning, as the team will save $3.67 million over the next two seasons, according to General Fanager.
Carle carried an AAV of $5.5 million and signed with the Lightning through 2018.
Not as offensively potent as he used to be, Carle posted nine points in 64 contests last season. Still, he will likely be sought after by plenty of teams in search of a middle-pairing blue-liner.
The veteran defenseman confirmed the report to Joe Haggerty of CSNNE, adding he's going to miss playing for the Bruins.
As a result, the Bruins will save $2.833 million against the salary cap this year and $1.833 million in 2017-18, according to General Fanager. They will, however, be on the hook for a cap hit of $1,666,666 for the two seasons after that point.
Seidenberg, 34, has been with the Bruins since 2010 and was a member of the 2011 Stanley Cup championship squad. He was limited to 61 games this past season due to injury.
The oft-injured winger took to Twitter to thank the organization and its fans after recently being traded to the New Jersey Devils, and added some humorous and healthy self deprecation for good measure.
