Blake is out

Well, time for a new avatar, I guess. Here is my soon to be old one in case anyone wants to save it.

flake.jpg
 
Blake’s tenure with the Kings ends as it should. He will go down as a divisive figure because of marginal success against a background of disappointment. His on ice career is exemplary while at the same time his accomplishments as a Kings player and executive are mediocre.

I think he played in a Kings jersey 14 of his 21 career seasons. And he was paid a grip the whole way. No one dwells on the $12M he looted in his second stint because the team made the playoffs two seasons after he went to SJ.

The franchise has bent over backwards to give this guy every opportunity to build a lasting legacy. He’s been enshrined as a legend with his jersey in the rafters alongside Gretzky. No one was given more and he decidedly did less.

I think this is a hallmark moment for the fanbase in exorcising their sacred cows. Rob Blake’s final chapter in LA is the first real step forward in a long time. It’ll take a few more changes to build a championship squad. But today is step one in a journey that has a ways to go, but is finally on its way. The SoCal Kings fans deserve a winner.
 
Should have been fired for the Dubois trade alone. With that being said, had some good trades under his belt and made some interesting patch up jobs along the way. 6/10.
 
I’m not saying he should get the job but I think Yannetti would be an interesting choice. I’ve listened to a couple of interviews where, if you listened to him enough and reading between the lines, he hasn’t agreed with various development decisions.

BTW, his infamous statement about only McDavids play at 18 wasn’t a lie IMO. He was trying to explain a decision (I never felt he agreed with) and just did it in fairly poor fashion. The fact he explained it poorly, given how well he explains things, is part of my opinion on this one. He’s usually very precise and accurate, so I think he was toeing the company line which is what he’s employed to do. Listening to subsequent interviews reinforced my view.

So I hold none of that against him. I listen to his interviews any time I can find them and sometimes I pick up on things he’s doesn’t say (consistently). I think he’s the internal candidate that would do it differently.

Yannetti would absolutely have a plan and I think he’d probably have one ready to go already. Whether that’s the right plan I have no idea. However the plan won’t matter, I suspect it’ll be more important who his agent it. He’s also not Bergevin which is a huge plus.

I’m not sure about Futa, simply because I don’t know why nobody has given him a shot. There must be a reason. He was great in his previous role so why has he not made the next step? There may be good reasons but it makes me question some seeing him as an automatic choice.

(Sigh…) none of it matters because of Luc.
 

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