Los Angeles Kings defenceman and captain Rob Blake has squashed rumours that he will be dealt before the NHL's trade deadline.
Blake, 38, has been the subject of speculation with the NHL's trade deadline of Feb. 26 approaching, but the veteran blue-liner told the Los Angeles Times that he has not been asked to waive his no-trade clause, nor does want to do so.
Defenceman Rob Blake, right, said he wants to finish his career with the Los Angeles Kings.
(Chris Carlson/Associated Press)
"I want to stay here and remain a King," said Blake, who will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. "I stressed that with them and talked about the plans of the Kings and the future and a lot of different things. That was it."
Blake also said he would like to remain with the Kings once his playing career is over, possibly in a front-office position.
"You're going to read a lot of stuff," Blake said to the Times. "Nothing has changed on my part. I expressed my feelings to stay here again and do what I wanted to do when I came here two years ago.
"My goals have been, two years ago, to sign here, to finish here. And to do something here, and that hasn't changed. If it takes two more years, three more years, or five years, I hope I'm involved somehow with that process."
Blake, currently on injured reserve with a left broken ankle, has five goals and 26 assists in 53 games this season
A native of Simcoe, Ont., Blake was fourth-round pick (70th overall) of the Kings in the 1988 NHL draft.
In 1,109 NHL regular-season games with the Kings and Colorado Avalanche, Blake has 219 goals and 697 points.
