.

And this ain’t no skiing trip.

Considering the hodgepodge of a mess the NHL finds itself in, today’s move could be the start of another wallop of players heading overseas. It’s a live look at the sport in a downward swirl of unneeded destruction – yet again.

By Saturday, the NHL is expected to axe the 2013 Winter Classic.

And it very well may be the kiss of death to any possibility of the NHL restarting operations this season.

The most recent Kings export is Dustin Brown, who has confirmed his planned departure to Switzerland on November 7th to play hockey. Brown has agreed to terms with the Zürcher Schlittschuh Club Lions, better known as the ZSC Lions.

The Lions play in National League A in the Swiss pro hockey stage, which is top-level talent in the country. This league is quite popular among NHL players; Brown joins three other NHL players already on the Lions’ roster: Tampa Bay’s Ryan Shannon, Vancouver’s Jeff Tambellini, and Toronto’s Matt Lashoff.

Downtown Brown

If the Kings’ Captain plays anything like he did through the final four and a half months of last season, they’re in good hands in Zurich, Switzerland.

Dustin Brown wasn’t just good, he was an absolute menace. After overcoming his season-lingering struggles once his name was dangled at the February trade-deadline, Brown went on a tirade. A serious tirade – offensively, physically, in every facet.

In the Kings’ quick 20-game run to the Stanley Cup, Brown chimed in with a package that included eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points. He also led the Kings with three game-winning goals, and included three shorthanded goals into the entire mix.

That’s filthy. And it’s unfortunate that he’s had to take his talents elsewhere.

Now it’s off to Switzerland for Brown, who joins a ZSC Lions club that is doing quite well for itself in the early stages of their season. Through 20 games, Zurich is in second place among the 12-team division.

Brown will also join his former coach in Marc Crawford, who heads the bench in Zurich. Crawford coached the Kings, and Brown, for two seasons between 2006 and 2008.

There’s a solid chance that Dustin Brown will spend the entirety of the hockey season in Switzerland, seeing that there are absolutely no signs to the NHL’s owners and the Player’s Association coming to a collective bargaining agreement to salvage any of the 2012-2013 season.

As for the other seven Kings players putting in time elsewhere during the lockout, there will be updates here from Finland, Sweden, and Germany early next week. Dustin Brown will not play in a ZSC Lions uniform until November 14th.

Oh, and of course we’ll catch up with the happenings in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Because, well, no one’s coming home just yet.

King Captain

Episode 174 *The Lockout Edition* – HERE
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