Rob Blake is out.

[DoubleMinor]

Thanks. I actually came to that realization shortly after my post. The franchise looks like it needs new ownership. Hopefully, one that is actually passionate about hockey and not interested in using the organization as an ends to a means. You know...such as building a brand new arena downtown to host professional sports teams including the one they own along with concerts and other events as a vehicle to revitalize the surrounding area with a plethora of profitable real-estate development projects.

Anschutz has not been a bad owner. He lets the team org spend money and spends to the cap. I’ve never heard that he isn’t involved but hires people and let’s them do their job, as far as any of us know.
But he’s 85. That’s a concern. Does he sell or have kids that try to play owners? Do the kids fight like the Buss family?

As far as the GM hire is concerned, while I do like Yannetti and Futa, I almost wonder if the wise move is to get someone from outside who is not part of the group-think or Kings boys club.
It worked with DL. I’m beginning to think that would be beneficial and smart.

 

[What party?]

Anschutz has not been a bad owner. He lets the team org spend money and spends to the cap. I’ve never heard that he isn’t involved but hires people and let’s them do their job, as far as any of us know.
But he’s 85. That’s a concern. Does he sell or have kids that try to play owners? Do the kids fight like the Buss family?

As far as the GM hire is concerned, while I do like Yannetti and Futa, I almost wonder if the wise move is to get someone from outside who is not part of the group-think or Kings boys club.
It worked with DL. I’m beginning to think that would be beneficial and smart.

Still working from the paranoid fantasy that the league will be contracting teams in the near future. And if this ownership is, checking out its options...or makes more money when random acts play Staples Center (yes, I god damn know) than a Kings game, how are we not scared?

To quote a fictional schizophrenic's imaginary friend: "Martha Stewart is polishing the brass on the titanic, we're all going down, man."

 

[MonkeysUncle]

Anschutz has not been a bad owner. He lets the team org spend money and spends to the cap. I’ve never heard that he isn’t involved but hires people and let’s them do their job, as far as any of us know.
But he’s 85. That’s a concern. Does he sell or have kids that try to play owners? Do the kids fight like the Buss family?

As far as the GM hire is concerned, while I do like Yannetti and Futa, I almost wonder if the wise move is to get someone from outside who is not part of the group-think or Kings boys club.
It worked with DL. I’m beginning to think that would be beneficial and smart.

I think choice would be completely outside organization, that why it is a true evaluation and not through the lens of 8 years of it was the right way. I think there is one person in organization that might have a different philosophy,, but I'd go
1 Mathieu Darche
2. Mark Janko
3. Brandon Pridham available?
4. Ryan Martin
5..Yannetti, but i would think he'd need an advisor who could help him out as he grew on the job
6.Futa, but what is philosophy and why has been out of nhl so long

 

[DryKing]

Still working from the paranoid fantasy that the league will be contracting teams in the near future. And if this ownership is, checking out its options...or makes more money when random acts play Staples Center (yes, I god damn know) than a Kings game, how are we not scared?

To quote a fictional schizophrenic's imaginary friend: "Martha Stewart is polishing the brass on the titanic, we're all going down, man."

Even when you add in the broadcasting contracts (tv and radio) and merchandise? If that is truly the case then hockey is a dying sport....

 

[Dexter]

L.A. Kings GM opening: 13 possible candidates to replace Rob Blake

Luc Robitaille said Blake "left this franchise in great shape." But now who will take over?

www.nytimes.com

 

[Kurisu]

As far as the GM hire is concerned, while I do like Yannetti and Futa, I almost wonder if the wise move is to get someone from outside who is not part of the group-think or Kings boys club.
It worked with DL. I’m beginning to think that would be beneficial and smart.

I'm still on team Futa. He knows the inner workings of the organization, but he's been outside of the grind to bring some fresh perspective and renewed energy to the job. He made it to Asst GM here, so he was close enough to the role to know the responsibilities better than just working as a scout. And his most recent gig is as an analyst, so he knows the trends in the league better than just having a myopic perspective from being locked into a single organization.

I think that's the best of both worlds. Old and new blood in the same candidate. And I don't remember hearing a single negative thing about him from his previous tenure here.

 

[Illegal_Stick]

Don’t forget that Dean was at first not returning Blake’s calls about the offer from San Jose. It was a botched negotiation from the get go.

You’re right. Totally forgot that part of it.

 

[VCRW]

You’re right. Totally forgot that part of it.

And the 2007/08 team was terrible yet Rob still wanted to come back. Remember too that Blake stated that he felt he was more valuable as the Captain and mentor during the rebuild than giving up his NMC. Hardly a betrayal, just bad communication and a lack of a clear policy from Dean. And then Lombardi hired Blake to be AGM in 2013. Guess there was no lingering animosity from either side.

 

[SirJW]

Since we are back to talking about him not signing here, we still "haven't really heard the truth" about the negotiations as one party said about why he left.

 

[NewCastle]

And the 2007/08 team was terrible yet Rob still wanted to come back. Remember too that Blake stated that he felt he was more valuable as the Captain and mentor during the rebuild than giving up his NMC. Hardly a betrayal, just bad communication and a lack of a clear policy from Dean. And then Lombardi hired Blake to be AGM in 2013. Guess there was no lingering animosity from either side.

Again, what upsets me isn’t on Dean or Blake regarding a failed resigning. It’s about Blake
blocking trades that could have benefited the team, since Blake was supposedly all about the LA Kings when he came back. He wasn’t. Plain and simple. He couldn’t go to a playoff contender for a few months in a trade that could help LA and then resign after.

In my opinion, screw lack of communication, Dean is shrewd. I would like to think it was a move to let Blake go so Dean could build his blue line his way. (Which he did and won with it.) A shrewd move to manipulate a situation in order to protect/better the team… not unlike the shoes on the desk for Kovalchuk. Man, Dean played that right. Oh wait, but what did the guy after him do with Kovy… hmmm.

 

[VCRW]

Again, what upsets me isn’t on Dean or Blake regarding a failed resigning. It’s about Blake
blocking trades that could have benefited the team, since Blake was supposedly all about the LA Kings when he came back. He wasn’t. Plain and simple. He couldn’t go to a playoff contender for a few months in a trade that could help LA and then resign after.

In my opinion, screw lack of communication, Dean is shrewd. I would like to think it was a move to let Blake go so Dean could build his blue line his way. (Which he did and won with it.) A shrewd move to manipulate a situation in order to protect/better the team… not unlike the shoes on the desk for Kovalchuk. Man, Dean played that right. Oh wait, but what did the guy after him do with Kovy… hmmm.

Your plan is flawed as Lombardi later demonstrated he had no intention of re-signing Blake. But you are angry that a Hall of Fame player wanted control over his destiny? 2001 was worth your ire. 2008 was not.

 

[NewCastle]

Your plan is flawed as Lombardi later demonstrated he had no intention of re-signing Blake. But you are angry that a Hall of Fame player wanted control over his destiny? 2001 was worth your ire. 2008 was not.

Sorry, person. I believe I used the words “what upsets me” and “in my opinion.” I also said in my earlier post that the 2nd time was when he prevented the trades. In conclusion, my ire gets to go where I want it to. And 2001 definitely gets it. And so does 2008. And Blake gets it now after these 8 years. Because, you know, opinions. I will always boo that man.

It’s too bad we cannot share opinions. What are we ever to do?

 

[VCRW]

Sorry, person. I believe I used the words “what upsets me” and “in my opinion.” I also said in my earlier post that the 2nd time was when he prevented the trades. In conclusion, my ire gets to go where I want it to. And 2001 definitely gets it. And so does 2008. And Blake gets it now after these 8 years. Because, you know, opinions. I will always boo that man.

It’s too bad we cannot share opinions. What are we ever to do?

I value any well-expressed opinion here. Please don't take a hockey discussion beyond what it is. You said Blake should have allowed a trade in 2008 and then re-signed with the Kings for the following season. But subsequent events showed that Lombardi had no intention of re-signing Blake. That was the flaw in the trade/re-sign plan to which I referred. Nothing nefarious... nothing confrontational. Your opinion is shared by many on this board. I am not trying to change it. Boo Blake will last ad infinitum.

 

[King of Pentacle5]

Still working from the paranoid fantasy that the league will be contracting teams in the near future. And if this ownership is, checking out its options...or makes more money when random acts play Staples Center (yes, I god damn know) than a Kings game, how are we not scared?

To quote a fictional schizophrenic's imaginary friend: "Martha Stewart is polishing the brass on the titanic, we're all going

If the NHL is contracting, then why did they add two expansion teams over the last nine years?

 

[jom]

If the NHL is contracting, then why did they add two expansion teams over the last nine years?

You're right...the are expanding. They are looking into going back to Atlanta....AGAIN. That'll be the 3rd time. Isn't that the definition of Insanity or something? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a new result.

jom

 

[Birdman]

You're right...the are expanding. They are looking into going back to Atlanta....AGAIN. That'll be the 3rd time. Isn't that the definition of Insanity or something? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a new result.

jom

They get a fat payday is why, all the while their team values keep going.

 

[hokiecat]

You're right...the are expanding. They are looking into going back to Atlanta....AGAIN. That'll be the 3rd time. Isn't that the definition of Insanity or something? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a new result.

jom

The circumstances are different now. The metro area has tripled in population since the Flames left. And the Thrashers are up there with the Blue Jackets in terms of teams which got terrible expansion rules and sucked for their entire existence. It is difficult to build a fan base if you're always terrible.

Add Atlanta and Houston and the owners get to split a couple billion bucks.

 

[DoubleMinor]

The circumstances are different now. The metro area has tripled in population since the Flames left. And the Thrashers are up there with the Blue Jackets in terms of teams which got terrible expansion rules and sucked for their entire existence. It is difficult to build a fan base if you're always terrible.

Add Atlanta and Houston and the owners get to split a couple billion bucks.

The higher the expansion cost the more favorable the expansion rules for this exact reason. Vegas paid a lot to get a franchise with the expectation that the expansion format would allow them to be good immediately.
The old expansion rules did not allow new teams to be competitive.

 

[King of Pentacle5]

You're right...the are expanding. They are looking into going back to Atlanta....AGAIN. That'll be the 3rd time. Isn't that the definition of Insanity or something? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a new result.

jom

What’s the minimum required population for a city to have an NHL team? Isn’t it like 750k or something?

Boise would be a good up and coming market. The ECHL Steelheads are really popular there, and that place is growing like crazy. Maybe in a few years they could find investors that would be interested in expanding there.