No F'ing Way...

While the deal has yet to be confirmed, Rich Hammond of Inside the Kings is reporting that he has confirmed with two sources that ROB BLAKE HAS SIGNED WITH SAN JOSE.

My first reaction was:

(*silence* My jaw dropped *silence*)

And then my second reaction was:

HOLY SHIT...WOW

Supposedly the deal is $5 million for one year. If this is true, then it most likely happened because the Kings didn't want to overpay for Rob Blake. The dude is ancient; Blake will turn 40 in December. He's aggressive in the offensive zone, still has a wicked slap shot, still has his size, but he's turned into a whiny bastard who doesn't throw his body around nearly as much as is needed and hasn't been as defensively sound as he used to and should be. $5 million? No f'ing way. I would have been PO'd if Lombardi signed him for that much. But now that Blake is (most likely) out of here, the Kings are in a huge vat of shit because the only real veteran defenseman they have is Tom Preissing. I hope this doesn't mean the Kings will go after Dan Boyle. But let's be honest, there's no f'ing way Boyle would want to come to LA now.

So who has the heart of coal? Marian Hossa or Rob Blake? I'm going to pick Rob Blake because I don't think Hossa "owed" anything to Pittsburgh. Blake f'd over the Kings once and now he's done it again.

Trades Shmrades

Why did the Philadelphia Flyers pick up Jaroslav Modry? Is he really the answer to their defensemen woes? It's not easy to declare the winner of this trade considering the Draft is still months away. However, based on last year's draft, our pick in the third round was Bryan Cameron, a smallish center who has played decently the past two seasons in the OHL with the Belleville Bulls. It's highly possible the Kings will end up the winner of this trade considering DL's knack for drafting.

Of all the defensemen on the Kings, I'm surprised that they passed up Tom Preissing and Brad Stuart. I'm still trying to figure out why TP was thought to be a good off-season signing and I guess the Flyers agreed. He hasn't done that much bad but he also hasn't done that much good. He's just....there. I'm willing to bet the Flyers didn't want to give up much for a veteran defenseman which is why they didn't trade for Brad Stuart. At least it gave me another day of hope that BS won't be traded. I'm really warming up to this guy and it only took me roughly 50 games! He's got some grit to his game and has one hell of a slap shot. I'm willing to forgive his myriad turnovers that were commonplace in the first half of the season because lately he's been showing why he's a studly defenseman.

(more after the jump)


I hate to doubt good ol' Rob Blake ("ya know, back in the olden days I had a mullet! hardy-har-har!"), but now I don't believe a damn word that is published about him. A month or two ago I could have sworn there were reports saying Blake was willing to waive his no-trade clause and now he's saying that he was never asked to do such a thing, nor would he capitalize on the opportunity to go for the Cup this season. I don't know what to think about you, Blakey. Do you really mean it when you say you want to stay in LA or are you just saying that because you're injured and the suitors are slowly getting out of line? I'm not going to comment any further about No. 4 till after the trade deadline.

I just have to say something about the Forsberg Fiasco. Today ESPN has an article stating that Foppa might actually still be considering a return to the NHL this season because after all the trade deadline is still one week away!! Are you serious?! First of all, why would a team want to risk signing him when there's been so much speculation about whether or not he's even 100%. This isn't Sniedermayer or Teeeeeeeeemu we're talking about, two guys who just had to maintain playing form while they pondered retirement. Foppa has ankle issues. Foppa has skate issues. Foppa doesn't even know if he's 100% and he's allegedly asking for a two-year contract worth $3 million/season? What?! Does anyone else think this is totally whack? If I were him I would be paying clubs for a chance to play for a Stanley Cup contender and then have in my contract a clause that states "if I can play in every single regular and postseason game and average 'X amount' of minutes, then you have to pay me 'X amount' of dollars next season." But then again, that's why I'm not in the "signing-hockey-players-to-contracts" business.

Will the Flames be Doused in the SoCal Storm?

Sorry, I just couldn't resist a cheesy title. I mean seriously, how often does it rain down here and even worse, how often does it pour??

The Kings and Flames meet up tonight for the second time this season. That would be the 21-14-7 Calgary Flames, the team I predicted to win the Cup (I know, big statement, right?) against my feeble little Kings who have a downright embarrassing 15-25-2 record. OUCH! We have the fewest wins, the most losses, and are just 3 goals away from being the team with the most allowed goals. However, in all that dim light we are just 2 points away from tying Tampa Bay! And, we have 2 of the 3 top HOT players (Nagy and O'Sullivan) listed under Yahoo! Fantasy Hockey for the past 2 weeks. What are the odds of that happening...

What are the odds that we'll win tonight? How about the odds that a goalie is pulled? Or the odds that Patrick O'Sullivan nets another point? Or the odds that Stuart will turnover the puck again? What is it with that guy and his slow reflexes? He chases the puck down with no one even near the circles, puts his head up, looks, looks, looks, looks, looks, and then by the time he realizes he should actually play the puck, the opposition strips the puck away. I'm beginning to like him less and less with every game I watch, but Preissing is still in the lead for my least favorite free agent signing.

I'm convinced that we'll win this game if Ivanans gets a fighting a major. Why? Well, was it just a coincidence that we ended our losing streak the first game Ivanans got into a fight since being deemed inoperable thanks to Blakey? Or that we annihilated Chicago when Ivanans got another fighting major? Yep...I think there's a pattern.

Speaking of Blake, $5 says he's gone before the trade deadline. The LA Times and ESPN Rumor Central both have him saying that he'll waive his no-trade clause if need be. Hmmmm, sounds like someone has a case of the grumpies. I know Blake, you thought coming to LA was the best idea ever because of your fond memories of working with Crow and your dreams of becoming the next Mario Lemieux by being Jack's surrogate father. Hah, little did you remember that Crow just ain't that hot and poor you didn't realize how much more of a man Jack is than Cindy Crosby. Blake, I will not be sad to see you go. (Sorry ckim) But Blake, when I eventually move to Manhattan Beach, maybe we can go surfing together, ok??

Oh, and a final non-hockey note, someone please tell me you watched Friday Night Lights tonight! Oooooh Tim Riggins.....you studly devil.

Keep Your Head Up

Why have I loved #4 since I was a tot?

And why has the cute-as-a-button #23 caught my eye?

Because they get the job done.