Rob Blake to join LA Kings front office, leave NHL Dept. of Player Safety
Earlier this week, Ron Hextall left the Los Angeles Kings to join the Philadelphia Flyers as assistant general manager, the team where he starred as a goaltender during his NHL playing days.
Now, Rob Blake is apparently going home again, too -- to the Kings.
According to John Hoven of Mayor's Manor, Blake will be leaving the NHL's Department of Player Safety to replace Hextall and become the new assistant GM of the Kings. Sources tell Puck Daddy the move is likely, though unofficial.
Blake played 14 seasons with the Kings, winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman in 1997-98.
His name was first mentioned to us by a source on Monday night. The dots didn’t seem to connect at the time, as head scout Mike Futa (a former OHL GM) seemed to be a more natural choice.
Then, three independent sources confirmed the information to us throughout the day today.
It’s official, Blake will be taking over the role.
This is just the latest twist in Blake’s relationship with the Kings and his post-career activity. His two tenures with the team have been well documented and he eventually hung up the skates in 2010. Since then, he’s been involved in a myriad of hockey related functions - including working closely with Brendan Shanahan and the NHL front office. The former Stanley Cup champion has also been actively involved with the Jr. Kings program.
Blake joined Shanahan's staff at the NHL in January of 2011 after retiring in 2010.
He spent the first 11 and a half seasons of his career with the Kings, later re-joining them for two more season before hanging up his skates as a member of the San Jose Sharks. His voice was heard in a number of DoPS suspension videos and helped with the NHL's Research and Development camp.
Blake's move comes on the heels of Brendan Shanahan flirting with the idea of joining the Calgary Flames as director of hockey operations last month.
It was thought that had Shanahan moved on, Blake would have been the next in line for the thankless job. Apparently there will now have to be a search for a new No. 2.
Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
• Kings acquire Daniel Carcillo from the Blackhawks
• Who were the luckiest and unluckiest teams of 2013?
• Dustin Penner returns to Ducks with one-year deal
