Rob Blake
Robert Bowlby Blake is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and the current executive vice president of hockey operations for the Nashville Predators. Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, he became a franchise icon during his initial 11-season stint, appearing in the 1993 Stanley Cup Final and winning the James Norris Memorial Trophy. After being traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 2001, where he won a Stanley Cup, Blake returned to Los Angeles for two seasons before finishing his career with the San Jose Sharks. He retired as an NHL captain after the 2009–10 season and was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.
- position
- Defenseman
- jersey_number
- 4 (Retired)
- hall_of_fame_year
- 2014
- norris_trophy_year
- 1998
- olympic_medals
- Gold (2002)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Blake's tenure with the Kings began when he joined the club for the final four games of the 1989–90 season after playing three years at Bowling Green State University. His rookie campaign in 1990–91 saw him score 46 points, earning a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team. By his third season, he helped lead Los Angeles to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final, where they were defeated by the Montreal Canadiens in five games. The following year, Blake recorded a career-high 68 points. In 1995–96, after Wayne Gretzky was traded, Blake became the 11th captain in team history. His dominance peaked in 1997–98 when he won the James Norris Memorial Trophy, scoring a career-high 23 goals alongside 50 points. After a trade to Colorado in February 2001, he returned to Los Angeles in 2006, reclaiming the captaincy in September 2007 following Mattias Norström's departure.
In Their Own Story
On October 29, 2002, Blake reached a significant milestone against the Minnesota Wild by recording his 500th career point. Later, on April 3, 2006, playing for Colorado against the Chicago Blackhawks, he scored his 200th career NHL goal, becoming just the 17th defenceman in history to reach that mark. His international success included three consecutive Winter Olympics appearances in 1998, 2002, and 2006. In 2002, he won a gold medal with Canada, becoming the 11th member of the Triple Gold Club. Back in Los Angeles, Blake discussed his transition to management during a March 3, 2011 telecast, noting that working from Toronto allowed him to watch games differently, seeing calls made and missed as if he were in the war room.
Reader's Guide
Fans should note Blake's unique path: he was the first player ever to receive the CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman award before joining the Kings. His playing career spanned three distinct chapters: an initial 11 seasons with Los Angeles, a five-year run with Colorado that included a Stanley Cup and two NHL second All-Star team selections, and a final return to LA followed by one season in San Jose where he served as captain after Patrick Marleau was stripped of the role. His executive career began before the 2013–14 season when he was hired as an assistant general manager for the Kings, leading them to a Stanley Cup victory that year. He also managed the AHL affiliates Manchester Monarchs and Ontario Reign. In April 2017, he became vice-president and general manager, leading the team to five playoff appearances in eight seasons before departing on May 5, 2025.
Did You Know?
- Blake was the first player to ever receive the CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman award.
- He became only the 17th defenceman all-time to score 200 career NHL goals on April 3, 2006.
- Blake appeared in the 2008 Mike Myers film 'The Love Guru' as himself.
- A short street in his hometown of Simcoe, Ontario, is named Rob Blake Way.
- He was distantly related to Hall of Famer Red Kelly.