Blake talks future
More notes from our friend Don Fulton...
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As Jack Johnson noted recently, the game is still fun - even on a last-place team - and team captain Rob Blake feels the same.
"As long as I'm playing I'm having fun. There's a lot of stuff around the game that isn't much fun, but once I get in the game and start playing it is absolutely fun," Blake said. "You never want to be in last place that's for sure, so the spirit and energy you see here (at practice) and in the games from this team is from the respect we have for the rest of the league."
Blake indicated that he still favors a return to the Kings next season and perhaps beyond, and sees many reasons to be excited about the future.
"I feel like I want to play another year or maybe a couple," he said. "I'll approach that this summer and I'll train like I always do and then see the options that are there for me. My focus has always been Los Angeles since I returned, and even though I don't like the position that we are in, I still think there are steps that can be taken this summer to really improve this team and take it to another level."
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J.P. Hoornstra writes about NHL and IHL hockey for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. He welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
E-mail J.P. at jp.hoornstra@inlandnewspapers.com.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews
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Vincent Bonsignore is a sports columnist for the Los Angeles Daily News. E-mail Vinny at vincent.bonsignore
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I hope he does return next year, for a discount of course. I think he has been one of the better d-men, which doesn't say much, but he is a big body back there, and that is desperatly needed.
Blake is still a presence on the ice. Sure he gets caught out of position sometimes but what defencemen doesn't? its part of this aggressive game. His value to this team goes beyond the ice however and the impact he has made on guys like Jack, Harrold, Priessing and others has been priceless. He should be given an incentive laced contract (+/-, ice time, games played, points, etc) and allowed to further tutor our young defencemen.
ITS MADNESS.
It would be nothing short of a catastrophe if Dumbardi signs this loser for next year.
But it wouldn't surprise me if he did. Considering all his other pathetic free agent signings, this would just be a continuation of Dumbardi's failed tenure as king's G.M.
It's so obvious. This player can care less about the Kings. He can care less about its future.
All this Rob Blake cares about is his pocket book and his aspiration to be a future G.M. himself.
It would serve Dumbardi right if he were to sign Blake to a contract and then get fired soon after. Only to have the same player he sign replace him as new GM.
He should be given an incentive laced contract (+/-, ice time, games played, points, etc) and allowed to further tutor our young defencemen.
I couldn't agree more.
It would be a nice change of pace to see a player like Blake not play for another team and retire in a King uniform. Whether its this year or next. I really don't like how much players move around now. Very few stick with a team their whole career and even though Blake hasn't, I think it would be great for the organization to have him finish his career out here.
Fellow King Fans,
TRUST ME, when I tell you that nothing good can come out Blake staying for another season. Only losing and suffering.
He will not sacrifice his body for the kings. He will not utilize what little remaining talent he has left. Which was evident when he allowed Ryan Kessler to win the game in OT for the Canucks. Blake did nothing but allow him to camp in front of the goalie. Like a spectator.
All this idiot cares about is sticking with the team long enough to get a position in management.
It wouldn't surprise me if Dumbardi signed him to a contract, only to be replaced by Blake when he gets fired. Which should be sooner than any of you Dumbardi-worshipers expect.
Blake needs to be sent packing. Get him as far away from the LA KINGS organization as soon as possible.
Screw Rob Blake. He's done nothing for this team since his return. All he's done is orchestrate his 2 year, $12 million contract.
What a waste.
ANTHONY
You have had some classics but Blake as GM to replace
Lombardi tops the list. This is way better than Kopi is better than Crosby.
Can you hook me up with some of the stuff you are smoking because it has to be killer. I am not a Blake
fan by any means but he is a hell of a lot better than
any of the players that are
going to be FA's. If DL can
sign him at a reasonable price he should be back. As
I said before this is 4th DL draft and it will be pivotal. Why not wait until
after the draft before you call for his head. Stud
d-men are at a premium in
this league and the teams that have them are not going to trade them unless
you overpay dramatically.
You have to DRAFT them and
get lucky.
About a month ago you thought this team had a shot at the playoffs.
Remember that????????????
You are clueless about the
NHL. Give DL his 5 years
and then see where this team is. It is not like he
took over a perennial
contender and ran them into the ground. He has not
really made a bad trade yet
and the jury is out on his
draft picks. His FA signings have been bad but that is just AEG money.
matal monster,
apparently you are the one who needs to get a clue.
Dumbardi was hired in 2006. Thus this would be his 3rd draft. Not his 4th.
Nothing personal. Though I respect your opinion on most of your comments, I am right on about the Blake thing.
Rob Blake is bad news. He's not worthy to be on this team anymore. All he cares about is furthering his own agenda. Not this teams success.
If he's back next season, all you're gonna see is more of his sloppy defensive play. Then you're gonna have another distraction at the end of the season, regarding, whether to trade him or not.
Believe me on this one. I'm a Kings fan just as much as you are.
I agree with Anthony Blake must go. Example when he was injured we were a much better team.