Credit: NHL.com
The LA Kings have reportedly signed general manager Rob Blake to a three-year extension to remain with the organization.
Hearing that GM Rob Blake has agreed to a three-year extension with the Kings. Likely won’t be officially announced for a week or two, but source confirms the deal is done. His current deal was expiring June 30. @TSNHockey @TheAthletic
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 18, 2022
Blake, whose deal was set to expire on June 30, took over general manager duties in April 2017. He has led the team to the postseason twice in that span.
After the most recent playoff appearance, in which Los Angeles fell in seven games to the favored Oilers, the Kings look poised to be playoff contenders in the Western Conference for years to come.
The former LA Kings captain took over a team not long off winning two Stanley Cup Championships. Once it became apparent that a rebuild was in order, Blake traded away talented veterans – guys like Tyler Toffoli, Kyle Clifford, Jake Muzzin, and Jeff Carter – and turned that into a prospect pool most recently ranked second-best, per The Athletic.
Last offseason, Blake heard Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar‘s request to add talent from outside the organization. The Kings GM acquired Viktor Arvidsson from the Nashville Predators and signed both Phillip Danault and Alex Edler in free agency.
Now with approximately $20.6 million in available cap space, Blake will look to continue adding to his roster while retaining key free agents.