Rob Blake will remain in Los Angeles as general manager. With his contract set to expire on June 30, ownership and Blake has come to an agreement that will keep the Hall of Famer as the manager for the next three years. The contract is a done deal, but will not be announced for another two to three weeks.
Blake inherited this role in the spring of 2017. After winning two Stanley Cups, one in 2012 and the other in 2014, Blake has all the intentions of bringing this team back to glory.
Hearing that GM Rob Blake has agreed to a three-year extension with the Kings. Likely won’t be officially announced for a week or two, but source confirms the deal is done. His current deal was expiring June 30. @TSNHockey @TheAthletic
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 18, 2022
Rob Blake Extended by Kings
Blake has a tenure in the management area. After retiring from the NHL in 2010, he joined the Los Angeles Kings front office in 2013 as the assistant General Manager and was part of the Stanley Cup Championship that next season. Blake also served as the general manager for the Kings AHL affiliate team in the Ontario Reign.
He entered his position with the biggest monumental task; getting the team out of salary-cap trouble. Painful times surrounded the fan base, as Blake had to part ways with some notable names such as Tyler Toffoli, Jake Muzzin, Tanner Pearson who were big pieces in those championships runs. Getting the team salary cap relief and assets were a big part in rebuilding for the present and the future.
What it Means
Blake has done well in drafting and development. Los Angeles boasts one of the best prospect pools in the entire league, thanks to in large parts to his ability to draft. While the Kings still boast veterans in Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, and Jonathan Quick the next wave of players are underway. Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte, Rasmus Kupari, and Tyler Maddon are just some of the key players in the pipeline. Let’s not also forget, Blake signed standout center Phillip Danault to solidify a nice 1-2 punch down the middle with Kopitar.
The Los Angeles Kings made the postseason in 2021-2022 and this team is not going around anytime soon. Rob Blake will continue to build on what he has started since taking the job.
