Kings Should Say "No Thanks" to Rob Blake

Despite a mid-career pit-stop with the Colorado Avalanche, Rob Blake will always be associated as being one of the more popular and famous players in Los Angeles Kings' history.

That said, does any Kings fan want Rob Blake to put off retirement and come back for yet another season with the silver and black? Apparently, Rob is considering doing just that.

"I'll probably sit down with the Kings before (July 1) and hopefully get something worked out," Blake said in a telephone interview from his home in L.A. "I wanted to get trained a little earlier this year and make sure I still want to play. I've kind of come through that point where I'm excited and I want to play a couple more years for sure. It's just a matter of sitting down and hopefully working something out to stay here."

Rob Blake just finished his 19th season in the league, probably his worst ever, and is coming off of hip surgery and a serious ankle injury. For a guy that has shown a major decline in speed, this is a very bad sign.

During his two year second stint with the Kings, Blake has played horrible defense, which his -19 and -26 attest to. In order to keep up his offensive numbers, Blake seems more prone to jumping up into the play, and leaving himself open for a counterattack the other way. His penchant for trying to get the "BIG HIT" also leaves him grossly out of position all too often.

I don't begrudge guys like Blake for wanting to keep playing the game they love, but it would be better for the Kings if Robbie went to play in the local beer league. If he comes back, the Kings will only be worse for it.