The Los Angeles Kings parted ways with former NHL defenseman Rob Blake (Bowling Green) last week after he served the past eight seasons as vice president and general manager. The Kings did not win a Stanley Cup Playoff series during his tenure, and were eliminated by Edmonton in the first round the last four years, despite 309 regular-season wins overall in his tenure as GM.
Blake, 55, played 20 years in the NHL, notching 240 goals and 537 assists for 777 points and 1,679 penalty minutes in 1,270 regular-season games with Los Angeles, Colorado, and San Jose before retiring in 2010. He also added 26-47—73 points and 166 PIM in 146 playoff outings, and won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001. He won the Norris Trophy in 1998 as the NHL's best defenseman, and also earned an Olympic gold medal with Canada in 2002, plus gold and silver medals at the IIHF World Championship in his career.
The 6-4, 220-pound blueliner from Simcoe, Ont., was drafted 70th overall by the Kings in 1988 following his freshman season at Bowling Green. In three seasons with the Falcons, he notched 39-65—104 points and 368 PIM in 131 appearances, while helping BGSU to three NCAA tournaments. He also earned First Team All-America accolades as a junior after collecting 23-36—59 points and 140 PIM in 1989-90 in his final NCAA campaign.
After retiring as an active player, Blake returned to the NHL in 2013-14 with the Kings as assistant general manager and vice-president of hockey operations, before being elevated to GM in 2018. He also served as general manager with Manchester (AHL) and Ontario (AHL) in his time with Los Angeles.
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