Rob Blake is out.

[ChiKingFan]

Kings are more than a few tweaks away from competing with Dallas, Avs, Knights, Oilers, etc.
It'll be really interesting to see what the new GM does.

Other than Dallas, they actually competed pretty well with those teams this year (including Winnipeg), until their coach decided to do a complete 180 from had made the team really good all season. And even with that, they still should have beat Edmonton.

 

[NewCastle]

Going from "booo" to "woo hoo" is amazing.

 

[nocturn]

Let's wait and see if this is actually a positive. This could just be some rearranging of the deck chairs on the Titanic ...

From GM to stick boy? I'm down with that.

 

[Hockey53]

From what I heard,Blake wanted to fire Hiller,maybe the new GM will do just that.But with Fluke as the Kings Pres.and hockey operations,probably not.And so the Kings mystery wheel turns

 

[Clif]

He's had 8 years. We went through a rebuild and have plateaued. He pushed too hard, too fast and gutted the farm. We've still not made it out of the first round under Blake.
In a normal organization, the GM picks his coach. Are the Kings normal? I feel like our entire org is made up of former Kings and surfing buddies. It's the hockey equivalent of academic inbreeding.

I disagree he gutted the farm. Clarke, Byfield, Spence, Turcotte, and Helnius are all the farm - they’ve just graduated. A lot of attention needs to be paid to Slukynsky and George, for one thing also. I hope the GM doesn’t rush that.

Moreover, it’s not Blake’s fault Hiller wouldn’t play the entire roster that was built for him to employ. This year felt like Blake had learned from some mistakes and was building a proper team finally.

Things can get worse.

 

[McSorleyFan]

Other than Dallas, they actually competed pretty well with those teams this year (including Winnipeg), until their coach decided to do a complete 180 from had made the team really good all season. And even with that, they still should have beat Edmonton.

Yes, good point. Kings compete with them. I was trying to convey going thru them to make it out of the West. But Kings need to walk before they run. A 1st round win would be the next big step. No matter what team they get next year ()

 

[ChiKingFan]

A lot of attention needs to be paid to Slukynsky and George, for one thing also. I hope the GM doesn’t rush that.

Assuming none of them completely lose their game, it would be pretty hard to screw up the Kings' goaltending situation right now. Next year Portillo backs up Kuempe. Two years from now that's reversed. The year after that, either George or Hammer backs up Portillo, then you see what you have from there. Hopefully, with three guys for two spots, you have a GM who knows how to manage assets.

 

[KHenry14]

8 years is enough. Even though it was Hiller who forgot how to coach in the playoffs, he's Rob's guy so he has to own the failures. Time to move on...

 

[RoS]

Thank you Edmonton. Sometimes you have to lose to win.

 

[orpheus]

 

[Statue4Deano]

I disagree he gutted the farm. Clarke, Byfield, Spence, Turcotte, and Helnius are all the farm - they’ve just graduated. A lot of attention needs to be paid to Slukynsky and George, for one thing also. I hope the GM doesn’t rush that.

Moreover, it’s not Blake’s fault Hiller wouldn’t play the entire roster that was built for him to employ. This year felt like Blake had learned from some mistakes and was building a proper team finally.

Things can get worse.

Laferriere too. All 23 years old or younger.

The young forward core is already in place. The defense is old. Which is part of the reason most of us disliked the length of the Edmundson deal. The next GM needs to address the blueline.

 

[Liz4LA]

Maybe he can go to Colorado again?
And please no Bergevin!!!!

Let’s keep the firings going with the coach.

 

[jgs]

Not good enough. Luc needs to go too. He is just as big of part of the failure as Blake was. Kings need a smart Hockey guy at President who will hire a smart GM who will bring a smart coaching staff. The good old boys club must be wiped completely out.

 

[jgs]

From what I heard,Blake wanted to fire Hiller,maybe the new GM will do just that.But with Fluke as the Kings Pres.and hockey operations,probably not.And so the Kings mystery wheel turns

Hiller must go after his 2 stupid prevent defense third periods cost the Kings the series.

 

[K-Man #32]

Kings are more than a few tweaks away from competing with Dallas, Avs, Knights, Oilers, etc.
It'll be really interesting to see what the new GM does.
Gavvy, Rittich, Jeannot, Kuz, Lewis ... notable UFAs
Kopi, Kempe, Spence, Clarke, Movarare and several others coming off their entry level contract - 1 more year before needing a re-up.

The New GM has a lot of work to do. Including deciding on the coaching staff.

This is a step in the right direction

 

[JJ289]

Hiller - going prevent D was not his only mistake. That challenge was a huge mistake, but maybe he was overconfident challenging because he did have a great success rate during the regular season? Also, the OT game he didn't need to have the top 4 D play 90% of the minutes. They ran out of gas late in the 4th and in OT.

 

[TooCool]

Buck Flake got what he wanted.. his jersey retired. That's it really.

 

[McSorleyFan]

Blake got us 4 playoffs in 8 years. The team improved over the years now it's up to the next GM (and coach?) to take the Kings to the next level. All the while, keeping Kopi and DD relevant/happy. But really, those 2 need to step back and let the others step up. Kings may need to trade to fill that gap on D, but on forward I think QB needs the boost.

 

[What party?]

The Kings: Sashay away

Rob Blake: "Miss Vannnjeee, Miss VAAAAANNJIE"

 

[dannybuoy1]

Take that, Mayor.

he is such a clown.