Blake wants to remain with Kings
Rob Blake talked about his Wednesday meeting with general manager Dean Lombardi. Blake said he told Lombardi he hopes to remain with the Kings. Lombardi told him that there are teams inquiring about him, but there was no talk of waiving his no-trade clause. Click at the bottom to read Blake's quotes ...
On injury: ``It's going to be a couple weeks yet still. It's week to week. I won’t skate until next week sometime. I tried to skate today and it was pretty sore still. The swelling has gone down. Any fracture is usually 4-6 weeks anyway. I'll have an MRI tomorrow just the halfway point to make sure it’s healing.
``I don’t think I've been hurt when everybody is out of town for so long. I just came in here and rehab. I can ride the bike and do a lot of stuff. The skating is the tricky part.''
On how injury occurred: ``In Edmonton, I got hit three times in the first period. The one shot that was the only wrist shot was the one that ended up doing it. It just got me in the right spot. At the time we thought it was a bruise and I played on it and played on it. Unlike a bruise, it didn’t get any better. To the point where in New York it really started to bother me, and that’s why they did the MRI. It showed a fracture of the fibula, the outside bone, which is non-weight bearing but, when you skate, you twist and turn on that side quite a bit.''
On meeting with Lombardi: ``Nothing’s changed on my part. I expressed my feelings to stay here again and kind of do what I wanted to do when I came back here two years ago. That’s not going to change. Hopefully it works out that way.
``He was just saying there are teams inquiring. But there’s been no talk of waiving the no-trade on either side. I think a lot of things you hear are people blowing things out of proportion. I'm not going to respond every time I read something. My goal two years ago was to sign here and finish here and do something here. That hasn’t changed, whether that takes two more years or three years or five years, I’ll evolve somehow with that process.''
On hoping to hold a position with the Kings after his playing career: ``It’s a little premature to answer that but I’ve dedicated most of my career with the L.A. Kings and always wanted to stay in hockey when I'm done (playing). I think the likely choice would be to stay with the L.A. Kings. It’s what I would like, but I don’t control those sort of things.''
God help him if he doesn't waive that clause.
im confused, man
blake, cmon man, i dunno..
im going for a jog!
I hope he doesn't waive the clause so we can boo him out of Los Angeles the rest of the season and Lombardi will finally get a clue and not bring this ahole back or give him a retirement ceremony.
Ship his ass out! If he wants to come back, come back in the offseason.
You all realize he is just saying that he'd like to stay - not that he won't waive the No Trade??? If Lombardi asks him to waive the NT because he has a good deal there is a decent chance he'll move if its the right fit. This is very similar to Tkachuk in St. Louis last year....
I wish he would realize that the only thing he's doing by staying here is hurting the team.
"jog"?? what is this "jogging" you speak of? I believe it's jogging or yogging. it might be a soft j. I'm not sure but apparently you just run for an extended period of time. It's supposed to be wild.
I don't know if I believe there are many teams who want Blake now, given his bum ankle. I think this was more just an attempt by Lombardi to see how committed Blake is to the Kings.
A bit off topic, but I read on hockeybuzz.com that the Oilers are interested in trading for Camalleri, and the Kings might get Pitkanen & Roloson in return. I tell you guys, I'd make this deal in a minute! Pitkanen is a bona fide #1 guy and he's young. Roloson could mind the fort better then LaBarbara or Cloutier until Bernier is ready. Make the deal Dean! :)
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=13393
If DL fails to trade this distraction, and ends up signing him to another contract for next season. I'm out of here.
Blake is alot like Cammi. They have one major thing in common. Both are in it more for themselves and the money, rather than the team. As a matter fact, they may care less about the team.
Wasn't it wonderful when both were out of the lin-up in the Flames game.
anthony said:
"If DL fails to trade this distraction, and ends up signing him to another contract for next season. I'm out of here."
Bye-bye, Anthony.
it's not like lombardi can trade him if blake doesn't want to go anywhere. that said i doubt he's going to come out and say, "yeah i'm ready to go, get me the hell out of here." he can't do that or he'd be villified by the media and the fans.
i would still be really surprised to see blake here after the deadline. i would be downright stunned if he's back next year.
Are you people really that lame?
Blake has been a terrific King. Sure, there have been times where it seemed he cared more about winning (God forbid) than helping this team along. But I've been a fan as long as any of you, and I don't understand how you can take what Blake has done & said, and figure that's enough to hate on him like you do. Ridiculous.
And Paul, that would be the worst deal in history. Roloson has always been the height of mediocrity in net, despite a good run here & there (most goalies experience that, at some point. . .jim carey comes to mind). He's not the answer, not even for a year or two. And Pitkanen has some serious issues, as you surely know. If healthy, Cammi will be a 40-goal guy, and his value will be a lot higher than what you're talking about, next year or down the road. Fortunately, you have nothing to do with our roster moves.
As much as getting a potentional sounds good, I like the fact is now being LOYAL. About damn time Blake. I'm fine with him ending it where he began
I'm aware of Pitkanen's issues, but he's still probably better then any defenseman on the Kings roster, except maybe Jack Johnson.
And my biggest concern about Camalleri is the Kings are probably going to lose him anyway the next time his contract comes up. May as well get something good for him if we can.
Also, I doubt that would be the entire deal, just part of it. I'd hope DL gets more then a defenseman and an aging journeyman goalie for Camalleri. I can think of a few Oilers I'd like to see in a Kings jersey.
Please sign Blake to another contract.
Anything to get Anthony off this site.
hahahahhah @pokey, that's the funniest thing ever.
is it possible for teams to trade fans? maybe we could trade Anthony to the Ducks for that old dude who wasted 170 bucks to get a Ducks jersey that says on the back "Stanley Cups Anaheim 1, King 0"
The kings need some hard hitting defensive defensemen, and Pitkanin is not that. He can skate like the wind, but that isn't what the kings need on d right now. I'd keep cammi before making that deal.
My goodness.
Perhaps, is it someting you all ate.
Anthony it's all said with love...most it anyways I'm pretty sure
Dude, nobody is gonna be happy if he says he's willing to leave the Kings. Nobody is gonna be happy if he refuses to leave the Kings. You know what that makes us? A bunch of miserable idiots (and I include myself). I just think it's gonna really suck if he plays another 3 years, because I don't think he can "evolve" into a #6 defenseman who makes the league minimum, plays 12 minutes a night, and is a positive influence. I guess we'll see!
Paul said:
"Roloson could mind the fort better then LaBarbara or Cloutier until Bernier is ready."
Save Percentage:
Roloson (.897)
Labarbera (.911)
Goals Against Average:
Roloson (3.15)
Labarbera (2.97)
Record:
Roloson (29GP - 8W - 14L)
Labarbera (44GP - 17W - 22L)
Cap Hit for 08-09:
Roloson ($3,666,667)
Labarbera ($825,000)
Well said Ryan. We don't need another Aubin here to "mind" the net until Bernier is ready. We have no need for Pitkanin as well. We need a big, rugged D'man more than a puck moving guy. that's what Lubo is supposed to be...just not this year.
I'm not for giving up young talent for a 1 year stop-gap in goal. If Barbs is the goalie again next year, I'm ok with that. We analyze the lousy goals he gives up and the rebounds, but you need to look at the GAA and Save percentage.
The way it sounds with Blake's injury, we're not going to have a chance to move him. The deadline is coming up quickly and it doesn't look like he'll be back playing before the deadline. Even if you move him, what can you get for an injured guy? Same applies with Nagy. Just our luck!
I'm all for bringing back Blake again nex year. I read the comments from guys like JJ and you can tell what a positive influence he's had on his play. Since there's not much down in the minors on D, I think the Kings are going to have to bring back most of the guys they have on D now. besides, they've played much better the 2nd half of the season.
I'm sorry, but I don't look at GAA and save %. I look at wins and losses. And LaBarbara & Cloutier don't win.
I'm sick of just sitting here waiting for next year. I want next year to be here now. And I AM willing to give up young talent for a bona fide #1 goalie.
Obviously I know Roloson isn't a #1 goalie anymore. But there are plenty of options out there.
I mentioned Emery and you guys killed me. What do you guys want? All he did was lead his team to the Stanley Cup Finals. Is he a head case? Probably. All I care about is wins and losses, and he wins.
Kings fans! STOP SETTLING FOR THIS CRAP ALREADY! :)
With Blake and Nagy's injuries, we really don't have as many trade-deadline "assets" as once thought. I think Stuart has stepped up enough in the last month or so that he should be considered to be resigned and not dealt. And who really would want Thornton or Willsie?
I for one, think that Brian Burke will make a bigger splash before the deadline that DL will.....
Well I hope they don't move Blake and like someone already said on here, thank god some of you on here don't make the decisions for this team. We really didn't have much to trade anyway as far as veterans go and if you are not going to get the most value beacause guys are hurt like Blake and Nagy, might as well hold on to them.
Love Blake or hate him, it doesn't matter to me. As long as he plays with heart, which he most often does. That's what counts. I don't think he's special enough to have his jersey up in the rafters but he does play with intensity and that's what matters most to me.
I actually like to hear that from Blake. If he wabts any "future" with the Kings, he needs to stay and be loyal. Also, if he wants to see #4 go up in the rafters, it might be a good idea to stay.
Blake is gonna stay a king because he wants to and the team wants him to stay. Okey Blake did a stupid thing way back in 2001 and Im sure he regrets on how things went on at that time but there is always 2 sides to every story. And if the owners of the kings had paid him market value at that time he would never had left. We all agree on that we need a though stay at home defenseman and that defensman is my fellow countryman Ole Kristian Tollefsen of the blue jackets. Im sure some of u fans remember how he beat the shit out of a kingsplayer and he can relive Ivanans so we dont have to play Ivanans in every game because we dont have anybody who can fight.He can also play good defense.
He plays regulary on the jackets PK unit. Trade Preissing for him or petiot and a young player in manchester.
If Blake closes out his career and goes into the Kings front office, his no. 4 is definitely going to be hung from the rafters. And not with him in it.
Eh... first time blogger here... so cut me some slack. I've been a kings fan for 40 years now. And yes, I'm just about as frustrated as Michael Jackson is at a 21 and over singles bar. But I had to step in here to defend Blake. This guy gave us many many years of (arguably) being the best D in the league. He helped us get to our only Cup Final. So let's not forget it. And yes, he may have gotten bitten by the greedy bug. But hey, it's the American way isn't it? And let's not forget that the kings were terribly mis-managed (can you say bankrupt) during his tenure. With his talent and how bad things looked for the kings, no one can blame him for seeking top dollar and going elsewhere. It's been stated many times that he doesn't possess the most dynamic personality. So I think we can summize that he's not going to go on to the same opportunities that Luc has gotten (after hockey). Let's not blame him for wanting to get the most he could to help support his family for the duration. Anyone with any sense at all would do the same thing. I for one... will be there when they put his jersey up in the rafters. He's a King, and always will be to me. Plus, we get Anthony off this site. What more could a person ask for?
I won't mind him staying if he resigns at a bargin basement deal before seasons' end.
Nagy is hurt, and it is doubtful he'll go, Blake won't go, Lombardi has to do something creative, and soon.
How about this idea - no more no-trade or no-movement clauses for future Kings? GMs are getting hand-cuffed with those restrictions. Look at the Maple Leafs - should be rebuilding but their most tradeable commodities each have a NTC (Sundin, Kaberle, Tucker, McCabe). I sure hope Preissing and Handzus weren't given a NTC!!!
Paul...I like your posts, I really do. But Roloson??? This is tantamount to the 2nd coming of Dan Cloutier....No go.