Brown Looking Forward to Adding 'Grit' to Arizona's Lineup

Late-game penalty kills are stressful, but don't tell that to Josh Brown.
The 28-year-old defenseman, who
signed a two-year contract
with the Arizona Coyotes on July 13, knows how difficult those situations can be. He loves that about the game of hockey, and he's especially excited to bring that mentality to Arizona.
Even if it stings for a moment.

"Sometimes it feels like a team is all over you, and then you take a penalty -- and everyone in the rink thinks they're going to score -- but then some of the boys have a couple of big blocks, the goalie makes a big save, you clear it, the penalty's over, and then you can almost feel the momentum starting to turn in your favor," Brown said. "I just love that feeling. It's a great feeling.
"It hurts for a bit when you block a shot, but it's a way better feeling if you kill it."

That tough-nosed mentality will fit in perfectly with the Coyotes, where general manager Bill Armstrong and head coach André Tourigny have worked to build a hard-working, gritty team. The towering 6-foot-5 blue liner, who has played 171 combined NHL games with the Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, and Boston Bruins, works hard in the trenches to make life difficult on the opposition.
With all those intangibles, it wasn't a difficult decision to bring Brown to The Valley.
"He's got some size, he's got some bang, and he'll defend his teammates," Armstrong said. "I think he gives us that new identity that we're looking for, as that bigger, stronger, tougher team, and I think he's part of that."
Brown joins fellow newcomer Zack Kassian, along with Liam O'Brien and Nick Ritchie, as Coyotes who will undoubtedly make life difficult for opposing teams this season. He has a little familiarity with the club, as he skates with Lawson Crouse in London, Ontario during the summer months.
He also touched base with Tourigny after signing his contract, and that conversation reinforced his decision to come to Arizona. The Coyotes' coach made his expectations clear, and it starts with showing up to training camp in good shape, ready to go.

Brown believes his style of play will bring a lot to the organization.
"That was another part of why I decided to sign in Arizona, because I think I fit in well with that," Brown said. "I like to bring that edge to a game, whether that's some big hits, being hard to play against down low, or standing up for my teammates."
There are aspects of his game that Brown continues to work on improving, so in addition to consistently hitting the gym, he's been working with a power skating coach to improve acceleration, stride length, holding his edges longer, and quick transitions to be able to shut opposing players down.
Those are elements he said are especially important given how the speed of the game has drastically increased, though he'll never lose sight of sticking up for his teammates - an aspect he said is critically important to helping a young team continue to grow.
"Guys are going out there sacrificing their bodies for each other, and that's a big thing for team building," Brown said. "If you know the guy next to you has your back, and you have that guy's back, then it's a pretty special thing going around the room."
As for killing penalties, Brown has spent roughly 10 percent of his time on ice over his career with shorthanded units. He was leveraged even more in the six games he played with the Bruins last season, as 17 of the 96 total minutes he played came on the PK.

That experience may especially come in handy in Arizona, considering the Coyotes' 10.2 penalty minutes per game were tied for fourth-most in the NHL last season. Coupled with the
addition of new assistant coach
John Madden, who guided the San Jose Sharks to the second-best penalty kill in the NHL last season (85.20 percent), Brown's impact with the club could be immediate.
"I love killing penalties -- Definitely not a power play guy," Brown laughed. "I'm going to stand up for my teammates and just be a big presence and tough to play against."
As the offseason presses on, Brown still finds time to enjoy spending his summer golfing, or even getting an occasional game of Call of Duty or Halo in with his friends. He also spends time at his cottage enjoying the outdoors.
When he arrives in Arizona for training camp, though, he plans on getting right down to business.
"I want to be in the lineup every single night," Brown said. "I want to be out there killing penalties, I want to be doing all that for the team. There's an opportunity there, but that falls on my to be prepared and ready to go come camp time."