LOS ANGELES – The Colorado Avalanche got what they wanted,
one of the NHL's finest players. The Los Angeles Kings got
something instead of nothing.
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| Deadmarsh |
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| Blake |
Rob Blake, the hard-hitting, high-scoring defenseman, was dealt
by the Kings to Colorado late Wednesday night. Los Angeles, which
included center Steve Reinprecht in the deal, acquired right wing Adam Deadmarsh, defenseman Aaron Miller and other considerations
from the Avalanche.
The acquisition of Blake, who has 17 goals and 32 assists this
season, strengthens a Colorado team that owns a league-best 38-12-9
record.
"Rob Blake is an elite and one-of-a kind defenseman who is in
his prime right now," said a delighted Pierre Lacroix, the
Avalanche's general manager. "Blake is recognized as a major force
in this league and an all-around great defenseman that combines
size, skill, toughness and agility."
Lacroix said he first contacted the Kings about Blake in late
January.
"It intensified over the last few days. We are very thrilled to
announce to our fans in Denver the acquisition of two very talented
players," the Avalanche GM said.
The Kings, 25-26-8 and fighting for a playoff spot, were in
danger of losing Blake, who can become a free agent after the
season, without getting anything in return.
The 31-year-old Blake, the 1998 Norris Trophy winner, asked the
Kings for a contract in line with the recent $29.5 million,
three-year deal the St. Louis Blues recently gave defenseman Chris
Pronger, both the Norris Trophy winner and the league MVP last
season.
The Kings first offered Blake a five-year, $40 million deal,
then upped that bid last week, but Blake turned them down.
"It was evident to us from very early on Rob was intent on free
agency," Kings general manager Dave Taylor said. "Last week, we
added to our proposals in an attempt to bridge the gap, but we were
unsuccessful."
Kings president Tim Leiweke had said he believed a trade would
be to the team's benefit, so more money could be spent on filling
holes in their lineup rather than giving one player a big chunk of
the payroll.
Taylor was pleased with the deal with Colorado, which also gave
up its first choice in the 2001 NHL entry draft, a prospect to be
determined later and future considerations.
"We were able to obtain two players who can step into our
lineup now and have a definite impact," Taylor said. "Aaron
Miller is a strong, gritty defenseman who will help provide us with
the defensive stability we need, and Deadmarsh provides us with a
unique combination of toughness, grit and offensive ability that
our club has been seeking."
It is the third straight season that Lacroix has been able to
add a big-name player close to the trade deadline, which is March
13.
In 1999, he acquired free agent Theo Fleury from Calgary. But
Fleury played only 15 regular-season games with the Avalanche
before leaving for the New York Rangers. Last year, Lacroix beat
out the Philadelphia Flyers for another top defenseman, Ray
Bourque, who was traded by Boston after 21-plus seasons with the
Bruins.
"I might sound like an old tape recorder because I have said
this for the third year in a row that the same question has come
up," Lacroix said. "I think we as an organization will be very
consistent with this, just as with the Theo Fleury trade and the Ray Bourque trade that our intention is to have the best season
possible with this club.
"The ultimate goal is the goal at the end of the year, and the
way this season will end is what will dictate what we do with our
contract situations."
A powerful 6-foot-4, 227-pounder, Blake was a Kings mainstay
since he came into the NHL in 1990 after Los Angeles drafted him in
the fourth round in 1988. He later became a team captain.
In 662 regular-season games during his 12 years with the Kings,
he had 138 goals and 291 assists.
Deadmarsh, a first-round pick in the 1993 draft, played a major
role in Colorado since helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in
1996, but he has been slowed by injuries this season.
A physical forward, Deadmarsh missed 14 games after receiving a
concussion during a fight with Vancouver defenseman Ed Jovanowski
on Nov. 1. He was sidelined another six games because of a knee
injury on Jan. 18.
Deadmarsh, 25, has 13 goals and 13 assists this season. He has
scored at least 20 goals in four of his previous six NHL seasons.
Miller, 29, has four goals and nine assists, with 29 penalty
minutes in 56 games.
Reinprecht, 24, has played in 59 games for Los Angeles this
season and has 12 goals and 17 assists.
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User feedback: What's your take on the Blake trade?
AUDIO VIDEO
 Kings head coach Andy Murray didn't want to lose Rob Blake, but is happy with the trade.
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Kings head coach Andy Murray sees Rob Blake as the top defenseman in the NHL.
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ESPN's Al Morganti likes the addition of Rob Blake in Colorado.
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