Around The Boards: July 19, 2013 – Dustin Brown Goes It Alone

Here is you daily dose of NHL news and notes:

Jun 4, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown (23) checks Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson (4) during the second period in game three of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

• Still no formal Olympic agreement between the IOC, IIHF and NHL, and as such there is no 2013-14 schedule yet.
• Dustin Brown made a lot of player agents unhappy, by negotiating his 8 year, $47M contract extension on his own, and then the Kings’ captain was quoted by media the following:

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the agent and their role in keeping players happy.  Not that it is the case for all agents, but sometimes you have to wonder how important they really are in the process, except to lengthen the process. It makes you wonder when enough is enough.

• Matt Duchene also signed a contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche, for 5 years and $30M. Both the Brown and Duchene contracts kick in for the 2014-15 season.
• After spending 3 years in the KHL, defenseman Denis Grebeshkov returned to the NHL, signing with the Oilers.  Edmonton gets a defenseman in his prime, at 29 years of age who has the capability of putting up 30-40 points in a season.  Nice signing by the Oilers.