San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson recently suggested he wouldn’t
get into the UFA market to find a replacement for Brian Campbell, but changed
his mind to sign former LA Kings defenseman Rob Blake to a one-year, $5 million
contract
Blake had been oft-lined to the Sharks in trade rumors over
the past two years but with Campbell gone and the depth in quality blueliners
in the UFA market fast shrinking Wilson went with an established veteran on the
downside of his career.
The length of the deal is one Sharks fans won’t have a
problem with but $5 million is quite steep for a former Norris contending
defenseman whose been a shadow of his former greatness in recent years.
Part of that is attributable to playing for a Kings team
struggling to rebuild and perhaps on a more stable roster Blake might be
capable of a bounce-back season.
It’s a gamble on Wilson’s part but one he had to make in the
short term.
You would have thought that we (or I) learned the first time that Blake is all about the $$-- not about the organization (contrary to what Blake's being telling us). And there had been talk about retiring his number?? We cannot even get Blake (over paid and over the hill) to re-sign? What's next, Modry will turn us down??? Thank you Lombardi for not re-signing this character.
I was going nuts wondering when the Sharks were going to do something. I like this signing, and I still wouldn't count out them getting Boyle because they would have to give up a d-man to get him.
What a joke... I can't wait to boo that #### for another year.
Of course now who are we going to get to provide some direction for the peewee squad that'll be prowling our blueline - obviously it isn't the coaching staff.
I'm still calling for a season ticket holder boycott of concession stands all of next year.
...What a surprise looks like good 'ol Dean screwed this up... Sorry Blaky have fun in San Jose.
Last edited by TorturedKingsFan on July 3rd at 5:18 PM.
I'm just glad he's gone. We spent too much time losing to have our high draft picks learn bad habits from that guy. The Kings may not have gotten any better this offseason, but the Sharks just got a lot worse! He's their problem now. Good riddance.
Are you serious nate, the Sharks got a lot better with this signing. On the Kings, he had to play a lot more than he is capable of due to his age. On the Sharks, he will be mainly the power play quaterback and get less ice time which means that he'll play better throughout the season. And to say that the Kings' yound d-men pick up bad habits from him is just a lie, I would love to have him be the player giving me pointers and helping me out if I was a rookie.
I don't know what Nate is talking about, either. They've lost Vishnofsky and now Blake. Sure they've got some good defensemen who're young... but they're young. Who's going to guide them? You can't say Blake isn't a good mentor. He's been a class act since coming into the league and he's played on some good teams and been one of the top 10, some years top 5 defensemen for many years. I don't understand L.A's decision making. They draft great players, but sign werirdos and let lots of important guys get away.
TSN is reporting that Dan Boyle has waived his no trade and will be heading to San Jose along with Brad Lukowich for Matt Carle, another prospect, and a 1st and 4th round draft pick.
That's one heck of a revamped D that the Sharks will have next season. I'm curious though if the addition of Boyle's salary will lead to trades of Cheechoo (much rumored) or a Kyle McLaren or Craig Rivet (wouldn't much mind having any of them wind up with the Blueshirts.)
S4ur0n, ever since Rivet has been with the Sharks, I haven't seen him play terrible. If you mean when he was with Montreal, that was probably because of the all the fans that were all over him for having a bad year. Rivet is on the Sharks' top d-line and handles it fine. And of course he has the rare right hand point shot.
Do you realize that of the four LA Kings pictured on the cover of the 2007-08 Kings Media Guide, only Dustin Brown remains with the team?
The fate of the others? Over the last couple of weeks Rob Blake left as a free agent, while Lubomir Visnovsky and Mike Cammalleri departed in trades.
Is there now a curse of the media guide cover and Dustin Brown is living on borrowed time as a King? Should LA fans tackle Anze Kopitar en route to the photoshoot for this year's media guide to ensure he'll remain with the team beyond his entry level contract?
In all seriousness, beyond his marquee value, the departure of Rob Blake is not a huge loss to the Kings. While he still has gas in the tank, he's not a difference maker. San Jose doesn't suddenly now become a Stanley Cup Finalist with him on the roster. (In the interests of full disclosure, I did pick San Jose to make it the Stanley Cup Final in the 2008 playoffs...)
This is an opportunity for Jack Johnson to take on some more responsibility and for the Kings to move some of their kids into the lineup. Ultimately, LA will benefit from giving these kids more playing time.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
