One of the biggest questions for the Los Angeles Kings in the off-season was if General Manager Rob Blake would return to the same position for the 2024-25 season. That was answered in Monday’s exit interview conference call and he will indeed be back to assume the role of General Manager and will enter the last year of his contract.
Kings Blake have unfinished business
Blake was hired by the Kings organization on April 10, 2017, as the new General Manager, replacing Dean Lombardi, and also taking on the role as Vice-President. He would go on to make several trades and signings up until this point, with many of those moves keeping the Kings in contention for a Stanley Cup. Other moves he has made has raised eyebrows, possible keeping the Kings from their ultimate goal.
Blake is in the final year of his contract, which he signed in May of 2022. Many thought he may be let go after this season due to the acquisition of forward Pierre-Luc Dubois, who performed under expectations this season. While Blake returning was a surprise to many, they were equally as surprised to know that Blake addressed the Dubois situation and stated that “there would not be a buyout.”
Los Angeles has managed to make the playoffs in four of the seven seasons Blake has been General manager but it could have been worse if not for some of his additions. During his tenure, Blake has traded for Ben Bishop, Mike Cammellari, Jordan Subban, Dion Phanuef, Nick Thompson, Darcy Keumper, Tanner Pearson,Dominik Kubalik, Carl Grundstrom, Sean Durzi, Tyler Madden, Trevor Moore, Tobias Bjornfot, Alex Laferriere, Olli Maatta, Lias Anderson, and Brendan Lemieux, with few names remaining on the roster and contributing. Some of the signings that did not work out so well include, Ilya Kovalchuk, Cal Petersen, Brendan Lemieux, Andreas Englund, and Vladimir Tkachev, as only Englund remains on the roster of this group. Kovalchuk’s contract and situation is a lot like the Dubois situation but Kovalchuk was indeed bought out.
If this is indeed Blake’s final season as General Manager, he needs to make a splash to get this team over the hump. The Kings have been eliminated in the first round for three consecutive seasons by the Edmonton Oilers and the roster cannot stay the same or they will produce the same results. If Blake fails to make a few moves to improve this team, he could find himself out of a job after next season. Time is ticking on Blake, and team president Luc Robitaille, to take this team to the next level. Regardless of what one thinks about Blake, it could be time for a change. If Los Angeles does not get out of the first round next season, both Blake and Robitaille could be sent packing.
(photo: rinkroyalty.com; Scott Kinville) (photo: lakingsinsider.com; Zach Dooley)
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