Rob Blake Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame (HoF chat)

[Ziggy Stardust]

https://twitter.com/reallisa/status/481151143712534528

Had the pleasure of covering Rob Blake in his rookie season. Just a total class act...

It's funny to me how those who played with Blake and all of his peers speak so highly of him, not a single bad word has been said about Blake by anyone who played or participated in the game. But then you have your irrational, petulant brats who feel so entitled that they boo a player who actually never wanted to leave the team. It was the team that had other interests in mind at that time.

Anyhow, you guys who don't like him can take your crying and moaning over to the other discussion concerning Blake.

 

[The Butcher]

He's one of the all-time great defenseman in NHL history. So much more than numbers. Ziggy's post regarding his career is insane.

Maybe so, but he's no hero of mine.

Once was, unfortunately.

We can argue this all day. I don't actively hate the guy but until he comes clean with an honest statement to kings fans I'm not really happy about having him around.

It's not like it keeps me up at night, but if he had the balls to address it it would go a long way with me.

Never gonna happen so moot point.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

That being said, it's just my opinion that a guy needs to do a lot for a franchise to be honored with a jersey retirement. HoF shouldn't be automatic. Character stuff aside, being a good player on crappy teams is setting a pretty low bar for that. Bonus points for longevity, but it's like making a "B" student valedictorian of the continuation school.

Marcel Dionne?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Marcel Dionne?

Played his entire career with our team and leads the next closest scorer by 150+ points. His name is synonymous with our franchise in a way Blake's isn't, imo.

Keep in mind Blake played less than 2/3 of his career here and had we not had a history of throwing away defensemen it's not like his stats are untouchable in a way Dionne's are.

 

[reset]

meh...sorta ambivalent on this one
congrats on him for making the HHOF

Im not so sure about the jersey in the rafters.

 

[The Butcher]

https://twitter.com/reallisa/status/481151143712534528


It's funny to me how those who played with Blake and all of his peers speak so highly of him, not a single bad word has been said about Blake by anyone who played or participated in the game. But then you have your irrational, petulant brats who feel so entitled that they boo a player who actually never wanted to leave the team. It was the team that had other interests in mind at that time.

Anyhow, you guys who don't like him can take your crying and moaning over to the other discussion concerning Blake.

Ziggy, ya just don't rip a "C" of your jersey a week before the start of a season.

Ya just don't.

 

[tsanuri]

Played his entire career with our team and leads the next closest scorer by 150+ points. His name is synonymous with our franchise in a way Blake's isn't, imo.

Keep in mind Blake played less than 2/3 of his career here and had we not had a history of throwing away defensemen it's not like his stats are untouchable in a way Dionne's are.

Might want to check your stats. He played for 3 teams http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8446430

 

[KINGS17]

His Number retirement next...watch out for it

Knowing the Kings when it comes to Blake, they'll probably try to sneak it up to the rafters with it attached to the 2014 Stanley Cup Champs banner.

Anyone notice during the rally inside Staples after the parade how Luc Robitaille was again introduced immediately following Blake just in case the boos rained down?

Players around the NHL seem to like and respect him for his willingness to always go for the almighty dollar in every negotiation. Here's an idea, maybe the NHLPA should retire his number.

Otherwise, let Colorado or San Jose do it.

The retirement of a player's number should not be a controversial issue. The fact that it is with Blake says something about the player, not the fans.

Players like him, a lot of fans don't. We are all Kings, right? Our opinions should count for something in this matter.

 

[Winger23]

Ziggy, ya just don't rip a "C" of your jersey a week before the start of a season.

Ya just don't.

Exactly, but we are just crying and moaning cause we don't care for him. Unreal and really disappointing that posters here feel the need to attempt to belittle opinions of those they don't agree with.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Ziggy, ya just don't rip a "C" of your jersey a week before the start of a season.

Ya just don't.

He admitted that he let emotions get the best of him. What does that tell you? It shows to me how much he cared that he would relinquish it if the team felt that he wasn't needed, and that is exactly how they made him feel. They issued a threat to Blake along with the contract offer saying if he didn't sign, they'll trade him. Remember the whole PR spin that came of it afterwards when Bob McKenzie leaked this information? They put out a press release on the Kings' site back tracking and stating that they will try their best to keep Blake in a Kings uniform, right after they had threatened to trade him.

Blake responded emotionally by doing so thinking if they want him gone, then he'll step down as captain. His teammates and coach got a hold of him and told him he was the leader of the team. That is how much he meant to them and he apologized and admitted that emotions took over the business side of things. So perhaps certain fans should do the same and realize the business side of things rather than being so emotional. But I don't expect a bunch of hypocrites to realize that.

Fans always cry about the lack of loyalty by athletes, but then they are so damn quick to want to have half the roster traded.

 

[agentfouser]

The ambivalence and mixed feelings among the fanbase suggest to me that his number should not be retired. If he were a true Kings legend--what should be required to get your number retired--this thread would be hundreds of replies long and people would be thrilled.

What I see is a lot of "meh." If that's the case, then he's got no business having his number retired. We can cite numbers all day, but it's about more than that. The fans are the crucial element of this franchise, for without us, the Kings have no reason to exist. If we are not clearly enthusiastic about him, then he's obviously not worthy of our highest honor.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Might want to check your stats. He played for 3 teams http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8446430

Herp, blacked out on the bookends, thanks for the fix.

 

[The Butcher]

He admitted that he let emotions get the best of him. What does that tell you? It shows to me how much he cared that he would relinquish it if the team felt that he wasn't needed, and that is exactly how they made him feel. They issued a threat to Blake along with the contract offer saying if he didn't sign, they'll trade him. Remember the whole PR spin that came of it afterwards when Bob McKenzie leaked this information? They put out a press release on the Kings' site back tracking and stating that they will try their best to keep Blake in a Kings uniform, right after they had threatened to trade him.

Blake responded emotionally by doing so thinking if they want him gone, then he'll step down as captain. His teammates and coach got a hold of him and told him he was the leader of the team. That is how much he meant to them and he apologized and admitted that emotions took over the business side of things. So perhaps certain fans should do the same and realize the business side of things rather than being so emotional. But I don't expect a bunch of hypocrites to realize that.

Fans always cry about the lack of loyalty by athletes, but then they are so damn quick to want to have half the roster traded.

Can you imagine what would have happened if Dustin Brown ripped off the "C" from his Kings sweater when he read about his trade rumors in 2012?

I realize it's a slightly different circumstance but it's not too much different if you think about it.

 

[Ron*]

http://lakingsinsider.com/2014/06/23/rob-blake-named-to-the-hockey-hall-of-fame/


I'd say it is a safe bet #4 will be retired eventually. Maybe once all of the boo-birds die off.

Die off?

 

[tsanuri]

Can you imagine what would have happened if Dustin Brown ripped off the "C" from his Kings sweater when he read about his trade rumors in 2012?

I realize it's a slightly different circumstance but it's not too much different if you think about it.

Very different circumstances.
I still don't believe he was on the block. I think other teams were trying to get him and DL being great at what his job is listened. Remember at that point it was a question mark of us making the playoffs.
Compared with being told take it or leave it on a contract.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Can you imagine what would have happened if Dustin Brown ripped off the "C" from his Kings sweater when he read about his trade rumors in 2012?

I realize it's a slightly different circumstance but it's not too much different if you think about it.

There's a big difference between being directly told that you will be traded, which is what happened with Blake, as opposed to rumors that were put to rest and didn't come to fruition. Lombardi didn't go to Brown and say, "hey, I'm trading you if you don't perform better." The Kings told Blake if he doesn't sign, he's gone. That's fine if the organization thinks that way internally, but to tell that to a player who spent his entire career there?

Imagine you being a long time employee at your company and they offer you less to stay there and threaten to get rid of you if you don't agree to their terms only. Are you going to bend over backwards for that? You can't compare what happened to Brown with what happened to Blake.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I'd retire Deadmarsh's jersey before Blake. Hell, even Miller while we're at it.

 

[agentfouser]

I'd retire Deadmarsh's jersey before Blake. Hell, even Miller while we're at it.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Credit a poster for this idea, but let's take the jersey retirement talk to the "It's time to forgive Blake" thread and keep this one about the HoF/accomplishments.

I realize the ideas are intertwined a bit but best not to clutter up a congratulatory thread with a discussion that's already ongoing elsewhere.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1692067

 

[jfont]

I still miss Deadmarsh

 

[KingsKnight]

Congrats to Blake! One of my favorite players growing up. I'm troubled by all the "guilty until proven innocent" posters there are on here who claim to know everything about him and what happened. Seems to go against what everyone is saying around the league.

 

[Bandit]

Kinda surprised that he got in so quick. I'm indifferent at this point, and I trust Lombardi, so what's the point of getting worked up about it now?

Sad that Burns didn't live to see his induction...

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Moved jersey-retirement discussion post-notice to the "Time to forgive blake" thread.

 

[The Butcher]

how about retiring Mattias Norstrom's jersey?

Much more deserving in my opinion.

 

[KINGS17]

Credit a poster for this idea, but let's take the jersey retirement talk to the "It's time to forgive Blake" thread and keep this one about the HoF/accomplishments.

I realize the ideas are intertwined a bit but best not to clutter up a congratulatory thread with a discussion that's already ongoing elsewhere.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1692067

Okay, if Blake is in then Doug Wilson should be in as well, but that's grade inflation for you today. That, and having worked in the NHL offices and being friends with the right folks on the selection committee.

Sorry, his selection to the HOF is very borderline IMO.