Welp, there's nothing to say or do about it now. We're going to be seeing this guy's face all the time talking about this team's future, collecting a Kings paycheck. Whether we like it or not, his name and number is now going up in the rafters, and we're expected to forgive. Will be very easy for some and very difficult for others. The man has spent a lot of time in LA, and now needs our support for the betterment of the franchise. Personal feelings aside, it's the team that matters and Dean has made his call, so welcome back to LA Rob Blake...
Kings News: Rob Blake to replace Hextall as Assistant GM
- Thread starter DAkings20
- Start date
Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
People questioning Blake's experience outside of playing may not be aware of how involved Blake is with the Junior Kings program. He's been involved with them for many years and worked with Emerson for the Junior Kings program. So he might know a thing or two about player development.
KINGS17
Smartest in the Room
- Apr 6, 2006
- 32,500
- 11,571
Well, I'm hoping Ron Wilson gets fired in San Jose soon.
Seriously, I don't like what Blake did in the past. Maybe the Junior Kings thing is something to be considered, but that's a pretty big stretch. If he busts his butt and does a good job, then fine. He has a lot of work and fence mending to do. It's not a decision I agree with or like, but hope I am wrong.
Seriously, I don't like what Blake did in the past. Maybe the Junior Kings thing is something to be considered, but that's a pretty big stretch. If he busts his butt and does a good job, then fine. He has a lot of work and fence mending to do. It's not a decision I agree with or like, but hope I am wrong.
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DryIslandBartender
KCCO
- Jun 30, 2006
- 5,610
- 2,478
tigermask48
Maniacal Laugh
There's a small part of me that hopes DL taking him under his wing and teaching him the ins and outs of the GM position is to make up for the fact that the Kings are not going to put his number in the rafters...Sort of a well we can't do this but I can do THIS for you instead... Yeah I know, not gonna be the case. But i can hope.
As nice as that would be, it would backfire because him being a long standing assistant GM will only add to his tenure here and increase his odds of earning the accolade.
Butch 19
Go cart Mozart
Funny Blake story, my buddy in college worked for Prime Ticket (this was 13-14 years ago) and there was an event where they had Dodgers, Kings, Angels, Ducks and Kings players there representing the network and signing autographs similar to Tip-A-King.
My buddy said no one was at the Kings booth so he walked up knowing I was a fan and Rob Blake was sitting there with no one in line so he said his buddy (me) was a huge Kings fan. So now, I have a nice Rob Blake glossy signed with my name
Back then no one cared about hockey or the Kings.
My buddy said no one was at the Kings booth so he walked up knowing I was a fan and Rob Blake was sitting there with no one in line so he said his buddy (me) was a huge Kings fan. So now, I have a nice Rob Blake glossy signed with my name
Back then no one cared about hockey or the Kings.
tigermask48
Maniacal Laugh
Oh man... They went and did it. They made Blake the GM of the Monarchs as well as assistant GM... Is it bad that I'm suddenly really nervous and not so ok with this? They put him in a role where he will in fact have his hands on the prospects.
Rorschach
Who the f*** is Trevor Moore?
I can begin my Rob Blake collection again. 800-something cards and counting...
Maybe I can get some signed like how I got a free hot dog coupon from Ron Hextall on opening night.
I wonder if they will start selling some 90s style cross logo jerseys of his? I could never afford his jersey when I was a kid. He was the best player and only good thing going for the Kings after Gretzky left. The organization was such a disgrace back then and he had to lead those bad teams. In Anaheim they looked like they had superseded the Kings at times. Today, we see Shea Weber get offersheeted by an astronomical amount and they find a way to keep him even with a cap in place. I wish they treated Rob the same way.
In Dean We Trust.
Maybe I can get some signed like how I got a free hot dog coupon from Ron Hextall on opening night.
I wonder if they will start selling some 90s style cross logo jerseys of his? I could never afford his jersey when I was a kid. He was the best player and only good thing going for the Kings after Gretzky left. The organization was such a disgrace back then and he had to lead those bad teams. In Anaheim they looked like they had superseded the Kings at times. Today, we see Shea Weber get offersheeted by an astronomical amount and they find a way to keep him even with a cap in place. I wish they treated Rob the same way.
In Dean We Trust.
kingsfan
President of the Todd McLellan fan club by default
I share your nervousness.
That said I'm never whenever there's a change away from something that is working. So I'll wait and see how Blake does. Only problem is it'll take years before we really know definitely if he's doing well or not.
Blake can be a complete pompous ******* if he wants. As long as he doesn't show it to the fans and keeps the Kings pumping out good prospects, I'm fine with it. And frankly, he shouldn't be talking to the fans a great deal. Hextall didn't talk to us (or the media) a lot, so no need for Blake to do it either.
Primakov!
Registered User
Related to that is the source of the Blake won't waive his NTC reports that came out around that time.
From Bob McKenzie:
Wayback Machine Link
Another was where Blake claimed the Kings never even made him a contract, which left him no real choice except to go to look for another team since he still wanted to play.
From Rich Hammond:
Link 1 - Blake's conference call on leaving LA
Link 2 - Lombardi talks about expectations for Blake and contract talks he had to date that Blake said never happened
Link 3 - Agent pitches non-negotiable dollar amount, Lombardi asks for time to free up money, and response is that they have no interest in waiting
FrozenRoyalty
Registered User
KingCanadain1976
Registered User
Any chance they take the mancheaster gm away and give it to someone better suited? not sure who but someones got to be better then blake a rookie.
mbar
Registered User
FrozenRoyalty
Registered User
Martyros
Allow me to retort
And how do you know Blake is not suited for that job? Yes, let's act like Lombardi and Luc have absolutely no idea what Rob is capable of.
Rorschach
Who the f*** is Trevor Moore?
Rorschach
Who the f*** is Trevor Moore?
I remember this: Blake wanted to play, still wanted to get paid millions and on the open market he was worth it. Lombardi says he wanted Blake to stay but for that money, he should mentor the kids like Jack Johnson and Blake doesn't say that back. Blake, a UFA, on his last few years, not getting the contract ge's worth and getting an offer from a good team will offer him a chance to win and who will pay him what he's worth on what will be his last contract, signs the only deal in front of him and goes to a contender.
Kings fans, misdirectedly bitter about the 2001 thing when they should have been mad at the PoS organization, take this as a second "diss" when it wasn't even the first.
Don't believe it? Well Dean just hired him to bring him back yet again.
Rorschach
Who the f*** is Trevor Moore?
Primakov!
Registered User
I don't think what Lombardi seems to be attempting to do (put cold water on things) between your article and John Hoven's quite addresses what pissed off so many fans of the Kings. It comes off kind of shallow and disingenuous because it tries to say, "Hey, he went for the money, but there were good reasons for that!"
The fact that Blake asked for top dollars and that outside pressures may have been exerted on him by the NHLPA have *nothing* to do with how he conducted himself as the Captain of the team towards the end of his tenure and Lombardi should know better, or he really has no grasp of the situation.
One plus one does not equal banana. The NHLPA didn't use magic ghost hands and ventriloquism to get Rob Blake to resign his captaincy.
I can't speak for everyone, but the fact that he left or that he wanted more money does not bother me in the least bit. Players come and go all the time, be it voluntary or involuntary, and I'd like to think others know it's the normal course of hockey business. It sucks when it works against you, but there's an obvious right way and a wrong way to go about it that can mitigate the break-up and Blake went for 31 flavors of bungled failure there.
Yanking that symbolic "C" off his chest amid a contract dispute of all things goes against everything that having the leadership mantle on a team is supposed to mean. It was downright sacrilegious. Heck, it goes contrary to all the virtues that Lombardi himself trumpets as being essential in the makeup of a great hockey player and leader.
That patch is more than a piece of fabric you can attach to the front of your jersey because it looks cool. If he didn't understand the unspoken implications and expectations that comes with it then he *NEVER* should have accepted it in the first place.
Kingler
Registered User
If Dean thinks Blake is the best available then that's good enough for me
Ya sure, everyone was pretty upset about him back in 00-01 season but honestly that's way back then. Its not like the franchises are angels neither. Remember what Dean did to Visnovsky? Sent packing to, of all places, Edmonton right before his NTC kicks in. Equally a despicable move by the franchise, and reminds us that in the end its a business
So ya, like I say, if Blake is the best guy then he's the best guy
Ya sure, everyone was pretty upset about him back in 00-01 season but honestly that's way back then. Its not like the franchises are angels neither. Remember what Dean did to Visnovsky? Sent packing to, of all places, Edmonton right before his NTC kicks in. Equally a despicable move by the franchise, and reminds us that in the end its a business
So ya, like I say, if Blake is the best guy then he's the best guy
Whiskeypete
Registered User
I don't buy Lombardi's explanation of the "climate" at the time. The same climate exists today and it existed before that off season. Players will always try to maximized their salary. Players will always be paid in contrast to other players. That hasn't nor will it ever change.
All the digging of articles that Primakov shows the smoke and mirrors bs that took place and continues today. There is a lot of pointing fingers about who did and didn't do what. there is no clear and conclusive proof to the spin they are playing on this. People can sense and read through the bs. The general public has seen this act played out to often and can smell through the nonsense. When the evidence trail is as littered with bs, then it's likely the entire scenario is bs.
It is what it is. Nothing we can do about it, but hope that maybe he will want to go and join Sakic and Roy in COL.
I won't forget what he did and how he turned on the Kings. To not waive the NTC and then months later bolt, while trying to say that LA didn't offer a contract.....whatever Blake.
All the digging of articles that Primakov shows the smoke and mirrors bs that took place and continues today. There is a lot of pointing fingers about who did and didn't do what. there is no clear and conclusive proof to the spin they are playing on this. People can sense and read through the bs. The general public has seen this act played out to often and can smell through the nonsense. When the evidence trail is as littered with bs, then it's likely the entire scenario is bs.
It is what it is. Nothing we can do about it, but hope that maybe he will want to go and join Sakic and Roy in COL.
I won't forget what he did and how he turned on the Kings. To not waive the NTC and then months later bolt, while trying to say that LA didn't offer a contract.....whatever Blake.
